"Pol. Maj. Gen. Siam and Deputy Jor" promptly questioned "Somphong," a mule account holder for the Nguyen gang who concealed over 2 kilograms of ice drug inside tamarind paste jars bound for Japan. Cash withdrawals of 20,000-50,000 baht were detected. Four arrest warrants have been issued, with embassy and immigration authorities coordinating to intercept.
At 3:00 p.m. on 17 Jul 2026 GMT+7 at Bang Yi Khan Police Station, Pol. Maj. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Metropolitan Police Commissioner and Director of the Narcotics Suppression Center, along with Pol. Maj. Gen. Theeradej Thammasuthir, Deputy Commissioner and Deputy Director of the Narcotics Suppression Center, Pol. Maj. Gen. Watee Asawutamangkul, Commander of the Forensic Police Bureau, Pol. Maj. Gen. Chaiya Phetpanya, Commander of Police Region 7, and other senior officers jointly brought in Somphong, 50, from Sakon Nakhon Province. Somphong, employed by a pharmaceutical company in Pathum Thani, is a suspect in the case of "participation in a transnational criminal organization." He was questioned regarding the concealment of over 2 kilograms of ice drugs hidden inside tamarind paste jars intended for shipment to Japan.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Siam said that on 13 July, a victim who had been hired to smuggle goods abroad brought a tamarind paste jar to the police after noticing suspicious contents hidden inside that were unusually heavy. Testing confirmed the substance inside was "ice" weighing over 2 kilograms, concealed in six spherical foil-wrapped lumps. Investigation revealed this case bore similarities to that of Ms. Meena, a flight attendant detained by Australian authorities.
In-depth investigations found this operation to be a Vietnamese drug trafficking gang led by a ringleader based in Hanoi. Orders were given via Facebook avatar accounts to hire riders to collect packages from residences of Vietnamese individuals in Thailand, then hand them over to Thai couriers who smuggle the goods overseas.
Examination revealed that the bank account used to transfer payments and expenses belonged to Somphong, from which Vietnamese individuals alternately withdrew cash amounts of 20,000 to 50,000 baht each time. After withdrawing money, they immediately returned to Vietnam to avoid arrest. Authorities believe more than four people are involved. Warrants have been issued for four suspects: Somphong, one Thai, and three Vietnamese who withdrew money, operated the Facebook avatar accounts, and acted as masterminds. Somphong’s Vietnamese girlfriend, a restaurant worker in Nakhon Pathom Province, is not yet charged but is believed to be involved. Police are expanding investigations, and Somphong initially denies involvement.
Of the three Vietnamese suspects with arrest warrants, one has already left the country. Immigration authorities are closely monitoring the movements of the others.
The suspects have attempted to evade detection by directing riders to avoid direct contact with them and constantly changing methods, such as hiding drugs inside food products or seasoning powder packets by cutting open and resealing them. They pay 450 baht per kilogram for smuggling services, which is a standard rate. The final destination is Tokyo, Japan, where Thai individuals collect the packages from couriers and distribute them further. Authorities have coordinated with the Japanese embassy to assist with inspections and are investigating the source of the ice drugs and financial trails, suspecting involvement in other illegal activities beyond drug trafficking.
According to investigative reports, the four suspects with arrest warrants used Thai mule bank accounts to pay couriers for smuggling. The pattern indicates an organized criminal network with the following roles:
1. Somphong, the arrested suspect, whose bank account was used by Vietnamese criminals to transfer money to couriers smuggling goods to Japan via multiple accounts.
2. The second suspect, a Vietnamese individual who contacts couriers to arrange smuggling.
3. The third, a Vietnamese suspect who coordinates with riders to collect packages and store them in a condominium near Pinklao; investigation revealed this is not the actual residence of the suspect.
4. The fourth, a Vietnamese suspect who transferred money into Somphong’s account before paying couriers and who holds Somphong’s ATM card or banking app credentials.
Therefore, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner urges the public to be cautious about accepting packages or carrying goods to be sent abroad, to avoid becoming victims or perpetrators involved in drug trafficking operations as seen in past cases.