A Turkish national has been arrested at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport after Thai customs officers allegedly discovered more than 12 kilograms of cocaine hidden inside coffee and chocolate packaging. Authorities estimate the seized drugs have a street value of around 36 million baht.
The arrest took place on Friday, June 26, during a joint operation by the Customs Department’s Investigation and Suppression Bureau and the Airport Interdiction Task Force. According to officials, the passenger had arrived on a flight from São Paulo/Guarulhos International Airport in Brazil.
During a search of the traveller’s luggage, customs officers allegedly found cocaine concealed inside bags of coffee and chocolate packaging. The narcotics were seized, and the suspect was taken into custody before being transferred to Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the national agency responsible for investigating major drug offences.
Phantong Loykulnanta, Director General of the Customs Department, said the arrest forms part of the Thai government’s ongoing efforts to combat transnational drug trafficking. Authorities are also expanding the investigation to determine whether the suspect is linked to a wider international smuggling network.
Under Thai law, cocaine is classified as a Category 2 narcotic. Officials said anyone convicted of importing or exporting narcotics for commercial purposes faces prosecution under both the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and Thailand’s Narcotics Code. Convictions can carry prison sentences of up to 15 years, fines of up to 1.5 million baht, or both.
The Customs Department said the case highlights the continued efforts of organised criminal groups to use international air travel to transport illegal drugs into Thailand.
Officials also released updated figures on recent drug enforcement activity. Between October 1, 2025, and June 25, 2026, customs officers recorded 214 seizures involving narcotics and psychotropic substances. The operations resulted in the arrest of 53 suspects, with drugs valued at more than 692 million baht.
Crystal methamphetamine, commonly known in Thailand as “ice”, remained the most commonly seized drug during the period in terms of the number of cases, quantity and estimated value.
According to the department, postal and express parcel services continue to be the main route used by drug traffickers, accounting for more than 76.6 percent of all drug cases detected by customs over the past nine months. Officials also reported an increase in attempts to smuggle newer psychotropic substances, including zopiclone, a prescription sleeping medication, and etomidate, an anaesthetic drug sometimes misused recreationally.
To strengthen border security, Thai customs authorities said they have increased the use of baggage scanning technology, K9 detection dogs, intelligence analysis, and cooperation with both domestic and international law enforcement agencies.
The Customs Department said it will continue investigating every major seizure in an effort to dismantle the criminal networks behind international drug trafficking. Officials also encouraged members of the public to report suspicious activity, saying community cooperation remains an important part of preventing illegal narcotics from entering Thailand.
