DSI’s Special Case Operations Center Region 5 and Provincial Police Region 5 Intercept Heroin Over 8.6 Kilograms Concealed in Sunscreen Bottles Bound for Australia; Expanding Investigation to Transnational Network

DSI’s Special Case Operations Center Region 5 and Provincial Police Region 5 Intercept Heroin Over 8.6 Kilograms Concealed in Sunscreen Bottles Bound for Australia; Expanding Investigation to Transnational Network

As the Prime Minister issued a directive designating the suppression of narcotics as an urgent agenda and assigned relevant agencies, including the Department of Special Investigation, to collaborate in the operation in order to further investigate and strictly prosecute those who have committed the offense, Police Lieutenant General Rutthapon Naowarat, Minister of Justice, strictly ordered the agencies under the direct command to continuously push forward the narcotics suppression policy in order to bring the Prime Minister’s directive into practice.

On Monday, August 3, 2026, under the direction of Police Major Yutthana Praedam, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation; Police Major Jatupol Bongkochmas, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation; Police Major Kriengkrai Suebsumpan, Director of the Bureau of Special Case Operations; and Mr. Angsuket Wisutwattanasak, Director of the Bureau of Justice Enhancement Affairs, instructions were issued to Mr. Somchai Tichai, Director of the Special Case Operations Center Region 5, along with the officers, to share intelligence and cooperate with local law enforcement for the investigation into offshore narcotics transportation through international parcel shipping channels (under the Investigation Case No. 98/2569.)

This operation stems from the information received by the officers, stating there would be an illegal drug smuggling activity through an international express air freight service company in Mueang Chaing Mai district, Chiang Mai province. The smuggling involved concealing narcotics in usable items for exportation outside the kingdom. The Special Case Operations Center Region 5, police officers from the Investigation Division of Province Police Region 5, and Mueangchiangmai Province Police Station jointly conducted an investigation at the office of the international express air freight service company.

Preliminary investigation revealed 2 suspicious parcels bound for Australia. The parcels contain several sunscreen bottles, which were found to conceal suspicious substance upon thorough examination. The substance was identified as a white powder, which was believed to be a category 1 narcotics (heroin) after initial examination, with a weight of approximately 8.6 kilograms. The Special Case Operation Region 5, police officers from the Investigation Division 3 of Provincial Police Region 5, and the officers from Mueangchiangmai Province Police, seized the evidence. After examining delivery information and photos from the company’s surveillance cameras, it is found that 2 female suspects brought the parcels for delivery. Therefore, the officers collected the evidence and expedited tracking down the suspects, leading to the arrest of both suspects while on the run in Sathan sub-district, Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province. The suspects were identified as Miss Ploy (surname withheld), aged 20, and Miss Wilaiwan (surname withheld), aged 19.

          Furthermore, crucial information stated that the mastermind and some accomplice who got the identity card for person without civil registration status in Wiang Kaen District, Chiang Rai Province, were related to the case of identity fraud to obtain an identification card, which the Special Case Operations Center Region 5 had been investigating. The officers are currently expanding the investigation to confirm the suspect’s network, as well as tracking down the senders, receivers, supporters, and other related accomplices, in order to bring them into prosecution.