Iranian arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport for smuggling 42kg of 'ice'

BANGKOK, Jan 6 (TNA) - An Iranian man on Wednesday was arrested at Thailand's main international airport for smuggling 42 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, commonly known as "ice", worth over Bt17 million (about US$500,000), into the kingdom.

Customs Department Director-General Somchai Sajjapong inspected the impounded drugs seized from 33-year-old Ghanavatirajabnejad Keyvan in the international arrival terminal of Suvarnabhumi Airport.

Customs officials said they observed the Iranian man behaving suspiciously after he disembarked.

As the suspect went through baggage scanning process, officials found that the bag was unusually thick, so they examined it and found the crystal meth hidden in a specially-made compartment in the luggage.

According to the preliminary investigation, the Iranian national said he was smuggling the drugs into the kingdom for the first time, but Thai authorities did not believe him, as it is reported that the accused has travelled to Thailand 11 times.

Thai authorities are now investigating the case further to find whether there are accomplices in the kingdom.

The Customs Department reported that it has arrested 31 people smuggling illicit drugs into Thailand via the airport throughout 2009. (TNA)