CALLING it the first time ever that liquid crystal methamphetamine (Ice) was found hidden inside cans of coconut milk with the shipment being seized in Australia, Pol. Lt. Gen. Chinnaphat Sarasin, head of Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said today (Sept. 15) investigation into shipping this new variety of the narcotic drug is being expanded in Thailand, Thai Rath newspaper said.
Australian Border Force (ABF) members seized a consignment of 86 boxes sent from Thailand to an address in Western Sydney after it was deemed to be suspicious. Upon testing the substance inside the cans, it was found to be liquid methamphetamine, Australian Times reported.
The ABF then referred the matter to the Australian Federal Police, who this week set up a sting operation and arranged a controlled delivery of the consignment to a warehouse in the suburb of Girraween, NSW.
When two people – a 29-year-old woman and 20-year-old man – arrived to take delivery of the goods, they were pounced on by AFP officers and arrested.
They were each charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border controlled drug, namely methamphetamine.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Chinnaphat said his bureau is coordinating with the Australian authorities about the seizure of the liquid form of this drug but so far not much information has been obtained. But the total weight of the drug is around 600 litres.
Calling the seized drug liquid crystal methamphetamine (Ice), Pol. Lt. Gen. Chinnaphat said this is the first time this variety of drug has been sourced and seen in Thailand.
Once additional information is obtained it has to be proven whether the liquid form of Ice could be transformed into crystals for consumption, he said, adding that in the past Ice has only been found in crystal form.
Previously, a group of suspected drug smugglers were getting ready to send heroin hidden in engine parts to Taiwan. The shipment was being handled by a delivery company in Tha Phra area but as yet no connection between the two cases has been found.
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The shipment and coconut milk cans holding Ice. Photos: Website of Australian Federal Police
