PRESS RELEASE:
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is cautioning anyone traveling during the Songkran festival against accepting luggage or items from unknown individuals.
The warning emphasizes the risk of unwittingly facilitating drug smuggling operations by carrying drugs hidden in travelers’ luggage.
At the Krungthep Apiwat central station, ONCB Secretary-General Pol Lt Gen Panurat Lakboon led the inauguration of anti-drug initiatives for Songkran. The event was coupled with another program to educate the public on safeguarding themselves from becoming ensnared by drug trafficking networks. The public is encouraged to report any drug-related information or suspicious baggage not belonging to them to the hotline 1386.
The Secretary-General reported that the Third Army Region has identified over 70 million methamphetamine pills at the border, poised for smuggling into Thailand during the Songkran festival.
He warned that drug traffickers might exploit the festive period to transport drugs using unsuspecting travelers’ luggage. Consequently, individuals are urged to vigilantly monitor their luggage and decline offers to carry packages for others or to open bank accounts, as these actions may inadvertently support drug trafficking activities.
The preceding is a press release from the Thai Government PR Department.
