Customs officers and police apprehended ‘Safi’ (not his full name), 28, at the international departures terminal of Phuket International Airport in Mai Khao at about 8pm on Wednesday (June 3).
According to police, Safi had already checked in at the Etihad Airways counter and loaded two bags of luggage before proceeding through Immigration and security screening.
During a body scan, an alarm was triggered, prompting officers to carry out a more detailed search.
The search allegedly uncovered 63 red-and-white capsules containing a white powder hidden in a cloth bag inside the suspect’s underwear. The capsules contained approximately 32 grams of ketamine, police said.
A field test using ONCB053 Ketamine Reagent reportedly produced a light purple colour, indicating the substance was ketamine, classified as a Category 2 narcotic under Thai law.
Officers also seized two iPhones as evidence.
Safi was handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station and charged with exporting a Category 2 narcotic from the Kingdom without permission, possession of a Category 2 narcotic without permission, and offences under the Customs Act.
Sakhu Police Superintendent Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul said authorities were continuing efforts to prevent airports from being used as routes for international drug trafficking and were investigating possible links to wider drug networks.
Patong dealers arrested after Facebook tip-off
In a separate case, Patong Police arrested two suspected drug dealers following a complaint submitted through a Facebook page alleging narcotics sales in the Patong area.
The arrests were carried out on Thursday (June 4) by officers from the Patong Police investigation unit under the direction of Acting Superintendent Pol Col Korakrit Khanthakrue.
The first suspect, identified only as ‘Pha’, 35, was arrested in front of a hotel on Phra Metta Rd in Patong. Officers seized five bags of crystal meth (ya ice) weighing a combined 9.48 grammes, 27 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), a Samsung mobile phone and a Honda Scoopy-i motorcycle.
She was charged with possession of Category 1 narcotics for sale, drug trafficking and illegal consumption of methamphetamine.
The second suspect, identified only as ‘Kit’, 38, was arrested in a hotel room on the same road. Police seized about one gram of crystal meth in four bags, 40 ya bah pills and two mobile phones.
He faces the same charges of possessing Category 1 narcotics for sale, drug trafficking and illegal consumption of methamphetamine.
Police said the arrests followed an undercover operation launched after receiving the complaint. An undercover officer allegedly arranged a drug purchase, leading to the arrests.
Both suspects were taken to Patong Police Station for further legal proceedings.