Police Hunt Suspect in Meth-Filled Tamarind Paste Smuggle Plot

National Police Chief General Siam Bunsap has ordered Deputy Commissioner General Theeradej Thamsudhee, Region 7 Police Commander Chaiyya Petchpanya, and the Bangkok Narcotics Center to launch an urgent investigation. The case began when an informant reported that a professional courier was hired to transport goods between Thailand and Japan. On July 3, someone using the Facebook account "Chayamin Pai" contacted the informant in Prachuap Khiri Khan, offering payment to ship items to Japan. On July 4, a rider delivered a cardboard box to The Trust Residence Pinklao in Bangkok's Thonburi district. On July 6, the courier returned to prepare for a trip to Japan. On July 7, the informant opened the box to inspect contents and discovered six jars of tamarind paste weighing unusually heavy. Upon opening one, she found a white solid substance wrapped in clear plastic—a red flag that prompted her to leave the box and alert authorities. When she returned on July 13 after flying to and from Japan, police opened the box and found six one-liter plastic bottles, each containing tamarind paste mixed with methamphetamine (ice). The bottles contained approximately 2.059 kilograms total: bottle one held 331.3 grams, bottle two 341.1 grams, bottle three 354.5 grams, bottle four 413.1 grams, bottle five 318.4 grams, and bottle six 300.6 grams. Officers seized the contraband for testing and are working to apprehend the "Chayamin Pai" account holder.