Attention is focused on the Japanese prosecutor's decision on 31 Jul 2026 concerning a 28-year-old Thai woman accused of carrying a 12 kg shipment containing 900 grams of ice meth concealed inside coffee sachets. Meanwhile, Thailand's and Japan's ONCB continue ongoing case coordination. The ONCB spokesperson revealed a possible link to a Vietnamese network hiding ice meth inside tamarind paste containers.
On 30 July 2026, Ms. Areepak Ngernbumrung, Deputy Secretary-General of the ONCB and its spokesperson, spoke about the case of Ms. Juthathip Thongnoi, 28, who was arrested by Japanese authorities after ice meth was found hidden in coffee sachets.
Currently, the ONCB’s Narcotics Suppression Division 1 is intensively investigating and expanding the case, coordinating information with police led by Police Major General Theeradej Thammasuthi, Deputy Commissioner of Metropolitan Police Bureau. They are analyzing CCTV footage from all locations where the male delivery rider's vehicle was seen traveling before and after delivering parcels to the 28-year-old Thai woman.
Police now know the vehicle’s license plate, make, model, color, and the route used from origin to destination, though this information is withheld for now. Initial data indicate only one rider was involved in transporting the parcels, with no passengers. However, authorities have not confirmed the rider’s gender, fearing the suspect might flee if identified. Meanwhile, the investigation has invited the rider suspected of delivering the parcels to come forward and prove their innocence regarding involvement in the international drug trafficking network. So far, no one has come forward, which raises suspicion. If the rider was merely a courier, they would likely quickly clear their name, but remaining silent suggests possible complicity in drug transport.
Once sufficient evidence is gathered, investigators will request the court to issue an arrest warrant on charges of "conspiring to distribute Category 1 narcotics (heroin) by possession for sale without permission and conspiring to export Category 1 narcotics (heroin) without permission," based on the case's evidence and circumstances.
On 31 July, the Japanese prosecutor will summon the Thai woman to hear whether she will be formally charged in the ice meth-related case. Meanwhile, the ONCB and Japanese authorities continue close information exchange. Additionally, Thai authorities have preliminarily linked this ice meth batch to a Vietnamese network that previously hid ice meth in tamarind paste containers seized by Bang Yi Khan Police Station. Bank account names transferring payment of 3,600 baht to the Thai woman's account are also Vietnamese, consistent with prior cases.
Currently, similarities in modus operandi suggest partial links between both cases. Investigations will continue to clarify who the actual masterminds are behind smuggling this ice meth batch into Thailand, how it was distributed to intermediaries, the country of origin, methods of entry and transport, dates involved, packaging details, and how it reached end recipients for shipment to third countries.
Ms. Areepak explained that the coffee sachets involved were sent to a Japanese lab for testing, confirming they were Thai-brand sachets, slim in shape, packed inside three boxes each weighing about 300 grams. The total ice meth concealed inside the sachets weighed 900 grams, with each sachet containing 3 to 5 grams.
It was found that the coffee sachets were altered and trimmed to hide the ice meth inside, then resealed tightly. Therefore, those who secretly carry goods abroad, avoiding customs duties, should carefully inspect packaging for signs of tampering or abnormalities, such as shortened sachets, compared to the original form.