BANGKOK — Thai customs officials have arrested an Indian passenger at Suvarnabhumi Airport for allegedly smuggling around 6kg of etomidate, a controlled substance reportedly used in so-called "zombie vapes." Phanthong Loykulnant, director-general of the Customs Department, said on Sunday that officers from the Suvarnabhumi Airport Passenger Control Customs Office, together with the airport's Investigation and Suppression Division, searched and arrested an Indian male passenger who had travelled from Mumbai, India, to Thailand.

A search revealed Category 2 psychotropic substance etomidate with a total weight of approximately 6,000 grammes including packaging, valued at more than 4.2 million baht. The alleged smuggling violates Thailand's Narcotics Code, the Customs Act of 2017 and other relevant laws.

Etomidate is a short-acting anaesthetic used exclusively in medical settings. It was previously classified as a specially controlled drug before being upgraded in late July 2025 to a Category 2 psychotropic substance, listed in the same category as ketamine. Authorities have raised concerns about its alleged use in e-cigarette liquids, sometimes referred to as "zombie vapes" or "K vapes."

The substance can affect the brain rapidly, initially causing a dream-like state, detachment from reality and euphoria. However, consuming large amounts can cause irregular heart rhythms, seizures, temporary paralysis and respiratory depression, potentially leading to unconsciousness, shock or death. The Customs Department warned the public and young people about the serious, potentially life-threatening dangers associated with e-cigarettes containing such substances.

Thai police are renewing warnings against accepting paid courier work to transport packages overseas, cautioning that drug trafficking networks deliberately target couriers to smuggle narcotics without their knowledge. The alert follows a case in which a 28-year-old Thai woman was arrested at Fukuoka Airport in Japan after crystal methamphetamine was discovered hidden inside a coffee bag in her luggage. Her family has stated she has no history of drug involvement and believe she may have become a victim of an international smuggling operation. The family acknowledged that their daughter failed to inspect the package before accepting it, and has asked authorities to investigate the person who gave her the package and determine any links to drug trafficking networks.

On July 26, 2025, Areepakdi Ngernbarun, Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and ONCB spokesperson, reiterated that the office has continuously warned the public not to accept packages or courier work to transport luggage or parcels overseas. This risk applies to all professions—including flight crew, tour guides, and even people running online courier pages—whether helping friends, relatives, or acquaintances, or accepting payment in exchange for delivering bags or items to others abroad. Even if the person giving the package claims to be a friend, relative, or acquaintance, the courier cannot know what is inside and risks unknowingly carrying illegal items. If customs or law enforcement officials discover prohibited goods, tax-evaded merchandise, or narcotics in the luggage, the person carrying it will be held legally responsible and may face prosecution, even if they claim ignorance of the contents.

Regarding the case in the Bang Bua Thong police area where the family filed a complaint, the ONCB has officers from ONCB Region 1 ready to coordinate information with police and provide assistance if needed. Areepakdi also disclosed that international drug trafficking networks deliberately target high-risk individuals or those with potential to transport items by luggage to destination countries, such as flight crew members, or those who openly run online courier pages. These networks seek people who frequently travel abroad or who publicly announce on social media that their luggage still has capacity for additional parcels. Such connections often serve as entry points for trafficking networks to exploit.

The networks typically establish trust first by sending a legitimate shipment to test whether it reaches the destination smoothly. If successful, they then begin hiding narcotics inside subsequent packages, having calculated that after several successful deliveries, they will make a profit. Areepakdi further noted that people accepting courier work through online pages often never meet the person they are dealing with face-to-face, communicating only through online chat.

The director of Thailand's Joint Information Center (JIC), Air Vice-Marshal Praphased Sornjai, stated on July 26, 2025, that Thailand respects humanitarian principles and understands international concern for conflict-affected people, but humanitarian efforts cannot be credible when based solely on one-sided information or unverified claims.

The JIC director emphasized that Thailand is strictly adhering to the December 27, 2024 joint agreement, which includes ceasing hostilities, avoiding provocation, reducing tensions, and refraining from spreading inflammatory information. However, Thailand continues to observe one-sided information campaigns, unverified figures, and attempts to link humanitarian issues with political and international legal accusations.

The director warned Cambodia that using global celebrities to amplify one-sided narratives risks them becoming unwitting tools of information operations, potentially giving the international community an incomplete picture of the situation. He stressed that peace cannot be built on competing media narratives and accusations, and that it requires both parties to honor their commitments.

Thailand remains willing to engage in dialogue, cooperate, and provide humanitarian assistance, the director said, but will not accept the weaponization of humanitarian concerns for political pressure or the distortion of facts to the international community. "Truth, accountability, and respect for our joint agreement are the only path to sustainable peace," the JIC director concluded.

Bus captain 'GiGi' from Thai Smile Bus Line 104 spoke to Thairath Online on July 26, explaining that she encountered a taxi illegally parked at the bus stop near Central Lad Prao and used the megaphone already on the bus to request cooperation, as shown in the viral video. GiGi explained her decision was driven by past incidents where taxis parked at bus stops caused near-collision accidents, which she had to report to police and could not resolve amicably. She worries that if the problem persists, passengers will face safety risks when boarding buses from the outer lane, which deeply concerns her.

When polite requests from road users fail, GiGi said she sought a method that would impact other drivers the least. She noted that when she used to get out of the bus to chase vehicles away herself, nothing would happen until she returned, meaning other drivers still suffered delays. She emphasized she is exhausted by how frequently taxis illegally park at bus stops and does not want to constantly address what should be the responsibility of those managing the area. She believes her actions speak for many commuters facing the same problem and will continue using the megaphone method if conditions don't improve, and may escalate to shouting from outside the bus in serious cases.

GiGi made a final appeal to those who illegally park at bus stops, saying she understands their profession and does not target anyone specifically. She noted that other public vehicles are allowed to drop off passengers at bus stops, but they should not linger. Once drop-off is complete, vehicles should leave immediately, as prolonged parking inconveniences everyone. She stressed that professional drivers maintain enough discipline and ethics that there is no need to park and wait for a bus to pass before leaving.

Got Chakraphan, known as the "Country Prince," has posted official police documents showing he has filed a complaint against online commenters who have left negative remarks in his spaces. In a message accompanying the documents, he warned those who enjoy stirring up trouble and spreading gossip without concern for facts or context to expect legal notices at their homes, stating the offenses involve defamation and making false statements, and that the statute of limitations has not expired.

Fan club members have responded with supportive comments. Some have joked that only cash apologies would be accepted, while others have pointed out that deleted comments cannot erase the evidence now secured with police, urging the commenters to prepare for legal action.