Thai officials announced Monday that they intercepted more than 2 metric tons of crystal methamphetamine on a tourist boat near a pier in eastern Thailand, preventing the drugs from being smuggled out of the country.
Eight men were arrested Saturday in Rayong province for allegedly attempting to traffic approximately 2.4 metric tons (2.6 tons) of the drugs through the southern border. Authorities have not disclosed the drugs’ intended destination or origin.
According to Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation, the seized methamphetamine could fetch over 3 billion baht (about $90.8 million) if sold internationally.
The drugs were hidden in plastic bags disguised as corn flour packages, each containing roughly one kilogram. Alongside the drugs, a van and a truck believed to be used in the smuggling operation were also confiscated.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra praised the officials for their work and reaffirmed the government’s strong stance against drug trafficking during a press conference.
Experts from the United Nations have identified neighboring Myanmar as the primary source of much of Southeast Asia’s methamphetamine and heroin supply.
A recent report from the U.N. drug agency highlighted a sharp rise in methamphetamine trafficking and other drug-related crimes in Southeast Asia. In 2024, drug seizures reached a record high of 236 tons—an increase of 24% compared to 2023.
The “Golden Triangle” region, where Myanmar, Laos, and Thailand converge, has long been notorious for opium and heroin production, largely due to its remote terrain and limited law enforcement. However, in recent decades, methamphetamine has overtaken opium and heroin as the predominant drug, largely because it can be produced more easily on an industrial scale.
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