Huge meth haul found abandoned along Thai river border

Huge meth haul found abandoned along Thai river border

BANGKOK, Feb. 2 — Thai border patrol forces have seized 400 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine along the Mekong River in northeastern Thailand after smugglers abandoned the drugs for later collection, the navy said on Monday.

Rear Admiral Paraj Ratanajaipan, spokesperson for the Royal Thai Navy, said the haul was worth about 200 million baht ($5.6 million).

In Nong Khai province, riverine patrols spotted suspicious movement along the riverbank late on Sunday and found 100 kg of crystal meth packed in three abandoned bags, officials said.

Earlier, in neighbouring Bueng Kan province, authorities recovered 300 kg of the drug from six large packages left in the sidecar of an unregistered motorcycle parked near the Mekong River, police said.

Officials believe the smugglers fled under cover of darkness, exploiting their familiarity with the terrain. The navy said patrols along the Mekong would be stepped up to counter transnational drug trafficking.