Drug traffickers using social media to hire Thai airline staff as couriers
A Thai Airways flight attendant was charged with importing more than one kilogram of heroin into Australia
Early in the morning on June 18, a message from an unknown account slipped into the TikTok inbox of a flight attendant in Bangkok with a series of questions: “Are you flying to Australia? Do you do carry-for-hire? What is your rate?”
The 30-year-old, who flies for a regional budget carrier, ignored the message and forgot about it – until Tuesday, when a Thai Airways flight attendant was charged with importing more than one kilogram (2.2 pounds) of heroin into Australia hidden in several tote bags.
The rare detention of a national airline cabin staff has triggered alarm in Thailand, raising questions about security measures at airports and concern that international trafficking networks are targeting aircrew in their attempts to get illicit drugs to lucrative markets beyond the Southeast Asian nation.
“According to reports, in the first half of this year, there have already been at least six cases of people travelling from Thailand who were charged with commercial drug trafficking,” Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said at a meeting on Friday of the top national anti-drug committee.
“This is considered a high number … and it damages the country’s image,” he said.