BANGKOK: Three Hong Kong tourists, aged 19 to 24, found the Land of Smiles rather less friendly than advertised after they were caught red white-handed smuggling 12.3 kilograms of cocaine into the country.
According to Apple Daily, Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and Customs intercepted the trio at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport on Sunday, acting on a tip from Hong Kong police. The suspects, a 19-year-old woman surnamed Fong, a 22-year-old woman surnamed Tung, and a 24-year-old man surnamed Yau, are all Hong Kong passport holders.
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A combined 12.3 kilograms of cocaine, worth around HKD11 million, was found stashed away in secret compartments in their suitcases. Fong, Tung, and Yau said they were each paid HKD8,000 by a Hongkonger called “Sister Ming” to collect the drugs — which had been sent from Brazil — in Hong Kong and smuggle them into Thailand.
The group was scheduled to deliver the drugs to Sister Ming in a Bangkok hotel, but Thai police believe she received a tip-off and fled to Hong Kong, the Bangkok Post reports. Thai and Hong Kong authorities are now working together to arrest the “mastermind”.
As for the three suspects, they have been charged with bringing a Category II drug into the country without a permit and conspiring to possess said drugs with intent to sell. Those convicted of offenses involving Category II substances in Thailand are liable to a maximum penalty of life imprisonment and a THB5 million (HKD1.1 million) fine.
