Two Indian men have been arrested and charged in Thailand with trafficking crystal methamphetamine worth an estimated US$1.4 million, a customs official said on Friday.
The suspects were detained on Thursday on the holiday island of Samui after flying in from Chennai in southern India via Singapore.
Custom authorities said they had found 12.3 kilos of methamphetamine hydrochloride, known as “Ice”, in their luggage.
Traffickers often try to smuggle drugs though regional airports as security is tight at Bangkok’s main air gateway, said Paisal Chuenjit, director of the Customs Department’s Investigation and Suppression Bureau.
“I’m sure that part of the drugs were destined for users in Bangkok because Ice is popular among wealthy people,” he added.
He said both suspects had confessed that they were hired to bring the drugs to Thailand.