Customs officials in Thailand apprehended a South African man attempting to smuggle 17.5kg of heroin hidden in coffee and green tea bags.
The Customs Department in Thailand has apprehended a South African man in a significant drug bust, seizing 17.5 kilograms of heroin that he attempted to smuggle out of the country.
“The Customs Department, protecting society, arrested a foreign male passenger for smuggling 17.5 kilograms of heroin hidden in coffee and green tea bags, worth over 7.3 million baht,” the department said.
“On July 9, 2026, the Customs Department, through its Investigation and Suppression Division, inspected and searched the luggage of a South African male passenger travelling from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, via Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand, destined for Ivato International Airport, Madagascar.”
According to the department, heroin is a Category 1 narcotic.
