Floods Allegedly Used to Evade Checks as Thailand Seizes 1.59 Million Yaba Pills

Floods Allegedly Used to Evade Checks as Thailand Seizes 1.59 Million Yaba Pills

BANGKOK, October 7, 2026 — Thai narcotics authorities have arrested seven people and seized 1.59 million methamphetamine tablets, known locally as yaba, after intercepting 11 parcels sent from Chiang Rai to destinations across southern and eastern Thailand.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) said the operation was conducted from October 1 to 3, with arrests and seizures made in Krabi, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Prachin Buri.

ONCB Secretary-General Pol Lt Col Suriya Singhakamol announced the results on October 5.

Drug parcels traced back to Chiang Rai

The investigation began on October 1 after Krabi provincial police seized 250,000 yaba tablets concealed inside a parcel and arrested the intended recipient.

Investigators traced the shipment to Chiang Rai, where police said Ekkarat and Pisith had sent 11 parcels on September 28.

Four of the parcels, containing a combined 500,000 tablets, were subsequently intercepted in Krabi and Chumphon, while seven others remained in transit to destinations in Surat Thani, Songkhla, Phatthalung and Prachin Buri.

On October 2, ONCB officers and Border Patrol Police Unit 417 arrested Ekkarat in Muang district, Surat Thani, with three parcels containing 600,000 tablets.

Authorities also searched a rented house in Mae Suai district, Chiang Rai, which they alleged had been used as a drug storage location. Officers found empty parcel boxes and equipment associated with methamphetamine consumption.

The same day, police arrested Anucha in Pa Bon district, Phatthalung, with a parcel containing 90,000 tablets.

On October 3, officers intercepted two parcels containing another 300,000 tablets in Bang Klam district, Songkhla.

Three more suspects—Somphong, Suphita and Jintana—were arrested in Kabin Buri district, Prachin Buri, with a parcel containing 100,000 tablets.

Flooding allegedly used to avoid checks

According to Suriya, the alleged trafficking network used private delivery companies during flooding in an attempt to avoid official inspections.

Investigators said the suspects allegedly posted the parcels themselves before quickly travelling to their destinations to collect them. Authorities said this method nevertheless created records identifying senders and recipients, which helped investigators trace the shipments.

The ONCB said the same delivery method had been detected in parts of eastern, central and southern Thailand.

Investigators will continue gathering evidence and seeking court warrants for other alleged senders, organisers and recipients connected to the network.

Network allegedly moved millions of yaba tablets

Authorities said records showed the Ekkarat network had sent 41 parcels between July 20 and September 30.

Around 30 parcels were successfully delivered, and authorities estimate that those shipments contained approximately 2.44 million yaba tablets.

The remaining 11 parcels, intercepted during the latest operation, contained the 1.59 million tablets seized by authorities.

The ONCB said members of the public can confidentially report suspected drug activity through its 24-hour hotline at 1386.