Thai Woman Detained in Japan Over Parcel Containing Methamphetamine
Thai Woman Detained in Japan Over Parcel Containing Methamphetamine
BANGKOK, 27 July 2026 — A Thai woman has been arrested in Japan after customs officials allegedly discovered methamphetamine concealed inside coffee packets within a parcel she had been paid to transport from Thailand, while her family insists she had no knowledge of the drugs and was unknowingly used as a courier.
According to her family, Juthathip Thongnoi, 28, traveled from Bangkok to Japan on July 11 with her boyfriend, Sarawut, and another companion. The group departed from Don Mueang International Airport and arrived at Fukuoka Airport the following day.
Her boyfriend said Juthathip operated a parcel-carrying service through a Line group called “THIENTHIEN SHOP,” which connected customers in Thailand with Thai residents in Japan seeking to send packages.
On July 10, a customer using the Line account name “ing ing” arranged for the group to transport a 12-kilogram parcel packed inside a heavily taped cardboard box. Sarawut said the same customer had previously used the service in May without incident, leaving them with no reason to suspect anything was wrong. He said he was unsure whether Juthathip had opened or inspected the package before departure.
Upon arriving in Fukuoka at around 7 a.m. on July 12, Japanese customs officials inspected the group’s luggage. Juthathip was detained, while Sarawut and their companion were questioned for approximately 11 hours before being released.
Sarawut said authorities initially did not explain why Juthathip had been detained. After he contacted the Royal Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka, he was informed that Japanese investigators were examining a suspected prohibited substance.
The family later received official notification on July 22 stating that methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice,” had allegedly been found hidden inside coffee packets contained in the parcel.
According to the family, the group had carried nine parcels to Japan during the trip. All recipients collected their shipments except the customer identified as “ing ing,” who never appeared and allegedly blocked all communication after the group’s arrival.
The family said the courier fee of 3,600 baht had been transferred from a bank account registered under the name HO THI MAI.
Juthathip’s mother said the family has filed a complaint with Bang Bua Thong Police Station and handed investigators CCTV footage from their residential area, which they believe shows the individual who delivered the parcel before the trip.
The family maintains that Juthathip has never been involved in drug trafficking and believes she was deceived into transporting the package. They acknowledged only that she failed to inspect the parcel before accepting it and have urged Thai authorities to identify the person responsible for arranging the shipment.
Japanese authorities have not publicly disclosed further details of the investigation, and no court ruling has been issued in the case.
