Police arrested a fourth-year university student in Udon Thani with 354 kg of methamphetamine (ice) hidden in her car. The student cried, saying her father had asked her to hold onto it and pleaded for him to take responsibility.
On October 22, 2024, at the Border Patrol Police Bureau in Udon Thani, police announced the seizure of 354 kg of ice worth over 354 million baht, which was part of a major international drug trafficking network. The police had received intelligence about a delivery taking place in the area and set up surveillance.
On October 21, they spotted a white Honda City parked in front of a hotel, with a woman, later identified as 21-year-old Ms. Pancharat, getting out. Upon searching the vehicle, police found 12 colorful sacks containing 354 bags of ice disguised as dry tea leaves.
Initially, Ms. Pancharat claimed that her father, a 50-year-old Laotian named Vee, had asked her to hold onto the package, insisting she did not know it contained drugs. Photographic evidence of the arrest was collected.
Police reiterated the significance of this seizure, emphasizing that if the drugs had entered the inner Thai market, their value could escalate significantly. This operation was crucial in disrupting drug trafficking routes.
During interrogation, Ms. Pancharat tearfully recounted her troubled family background, mentioning her parents’ separation during her childhood. She expressed confusion and heartbreak over her father’s actions, revealing that he had been distant and that she had only received intermittent financial support.
She acknowledged that she had helped her father with deliveries twice before, but was never informed about the nature of the goods. In her desperate call for her father’s accountability, she conveyed feelings of fear and helplessness regarding her situation, emphasizing her desire for parental love and support.
Further questioning of Ms. Pancharat will be conducted to investigate the broader drug trafficking network and bring all involved parties to justice.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
