LOEI - Police have detained a Thai man and his Lao wife for questioning in connection with a parcel they allegedly sent to a Thai Airways flight attendant arrested at Melbourne Airport on charges of attempting to smuggle in about one kilogram of heroin concealed in her luggage.
The investigation stemmed from the arrest of Ms Meena, whose surname has been withheld, by Australian police. Thai authorities have sought to identify individuals linked to the parcel sent to her.
At about 1pm on Thursday, officers from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), Loei provincial police office, Chiang Khan police station, Erawan police station and Provincial Police Region 4, launched a coordinated operation to track down the suspected sender.
Investigators first searched a house in tambon Thad of Chiang Khan district, Loei, after learning of Arthit, 43, and his wife Thatsaphon, 42, a Lao national.
The couple, however, were not at the house. Police later learned they had travelled to Erawan district for rubber tapping work.
Authorities subsequently coordinated with ONCB officers and Loei provincial investigators, who traced Mr Arthit to Wat Tham Pha Mak Ho in tambon Sri Songkhram of Wang Saphung district, where he was working on a construction project.
He was taken into custody and brought to Erawan police station for questioning.
During questioning, Mr Arthit admitted that he had been hired to send parcels on six occasions to destinations in Bangkok. The parcels were dispatched three times from a parcel delivery shop in Chiang Khan district, twice from Ban Thad in tambon Thad andonce from Erawan district.
He reportedly told investigators that he received 8,000 baht per shipment from a Lao national, with the most recent dispatch taking place on June 28.
Authorities later located and detained Ms Thatsaphon while she was allegedly hiding at a rubber plantation in the Pha Nang–Pha Koeng area in Erawan district.
The arresting team escorted her to Erawan police station for questioning. In her initial statement, Mrs Thatsaphon denied any involvement in the case and said she had no knowledge of the alleged activities under investigation.
Police are expected to continue questioning the couple, although no charges had been filed against either individual at the time of reporting.
