Latvian Man Caught Smuggling Heroin at Thai Airport
Thai authorities arrested a 71-year-old Latvian national attempting to smuggle approximately 3 kilograms of heroin through Suvarnabhumi Airport, using Thailand as a transit point between Laos and Malaysia.
Tip-Off and Surveillance
The Investigation and Suppression Division of the Customs Department received intelligence about a potential drug mule using Thailand as a transit route. Acting on this information, customs officials coordinated with immigration authorities at the airport to monitor incoming flights from Laos.
Arrival and Inspection
The suspect, identified as Guntars, arrived from Laos on Thai Airways flight TG571 at 3:20 PM on June 22, with a connecting flight to Malaysia (TG417) scheduled for 4:40 PM.
During a baggage search, officials found a red canvas bag containing what appeared to be a camping stretcher. Upon closer inspection, they discovered 47 brown plastic-wrapped packages concealed inside the metal tubes of the stretcher’s frame. Lab testing confirmed the packages were heroin, totaling approximately 3 kilograms.
Suspicious Travel Pattern
Authorities noted that while the suspect had no checked luggage when departing for Laos, he returned to Thailand with a 9-kilogram checked bag—an inconsistency that raised red flags. Investigators believe the drugs were picked up in Laos.
Non-Cooperation and Language Barrier
During initial questioning, Guntars was uncooperative and spoke only Russian, with no ability to communicate in English. His behavior and travel pattern strongly suggested his involvement in an international drug trafficking operation.
Legal Action Underway
The suspect was handed over to the Customs Department’s Investigation and Suppression Division for prosecution under Thai narcotics laws. Authorities are working to trace the broader network and possible connections in Laos and Malaysia.
Regional Coordination Against Crime
Police Major General Choengron Rimpadee, Commander of Immigration Division 2, emphasized the importance of cross-border coordination in combating transnational crimes, especially drug trafficking. He stated that foreign nationals using Thailand as a drug transit hub remain a high-priority threat.
