BANGKOK: Suspected drug trafficker Jose Alberto Martinez Soto, 45, of Bolivia, is escorted by Thai customs officers after a press conference at the Customs Department in Bangkok, Thailand, 16 September 2015.
Authorities say a Bolivian man allegedly tried to smuggle more than 5kg of cocaine hidden in secret compartments in two suitcases into Suvarnabhumi Airport.
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Customs officials said the accused, Jose Alberto Martinez Soto, 45, confessed to receiving the drugs from a light skinned man in Brazil’s Sao Paulo. He was paid about Bt180,000 to smuggle them into Phnom Penh.
The Customs Department’s Deputy Director-General Mr.Chamroen Photiyod said yesterday, the officers noticed some abnormal items during an x-ray scan. They explored the bags and found five carbon paper packages of white powder hidden in secret compartments. The offender confessed to covering the drugs with carbon paper to avoid the x-ray scan.
The haul weighed 5,200g and officials said it was valued at Bt20.8 million.
The Customs Department has arrested many narcotics smuggling offenders across the country since October 1 last year, totaling 281 offences. The hauls included: mitragyna speciosa (127 cases), Diazepam: cough syrup compound (47 cases), crystal meth (30 cases). Officers have been urged to step up their examination work in all areas to drive down narcotics smuggling.
