Phuket –
Thai Customs officials have arrested a male passenger attempting to smuggle 3.1 kilograms of cocaine into the country, with an estimated street value of 9.3 million baht. The arrest took place at Phuket International Airport.
The Customs Investigation and Suppression Bureau told the Phuket Express that on February 11th, 2026, they identified a high-risk male passenger arriving from Humberto Delgado Airport in Portugal via Istanbul.
The Phuket Express noted that officials did not release more details about the suspect.
Upon screening and X-raying the suspect’s luggage, officers detected irregularities. A thorough search revealed a hidden compartment containing white powder wrapped in blue carbon paper, intended to evade detection. Preliminary testing with ONCB reagent confirmed the substance as cocaine, classified as a Category 2 narcotic under Thai law.
The suspect was immediately detained along with the seized narcotics and handed over to investigators. He faces charges of importing a Category 2 narcotic without authorization, in violation of the Narcotics Code, as well as offenses under Sections 242 and 252 in conjunction with Sections 166 and 167 of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017).
