Investigators asking whether flight attendant knew about drugs

Thai authorities are expanding the investigation into the case of a Thai flight attendant who was arrested for carrying heroin into Australia, to determine whether she was knowingly involved in drug smuggling.

The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has been exchanging information with the Australian Federal Police (AFP). Authorities on Monday searched the suspect’s residence in Bangkok and questioned her boyfriend.

Officers also met with the mother of the arrested attendant, identified as Meena, 26, in Phayao province on Tuesday. Her mother was the only person allowed to speak with the suspect after she was arrested at Melbourne Airport on Thursday, according to the ONCB, citing information from Australian authorities.

The attendant, an employee of Thai Airways International, was detained after a kilogramme of heroin was found concealed in her luggage. She was carrying 12 items of luggage, two of which were identified as unusual upon inspection, according to Australian news sources.

The street value of the seized drugs was reportedly A$500,000 (11.4 million baht).

B8,800 courier fee

Investigators have found a conversation between the attendant and a Facebook user who was looking for someone to bring a package to Australia, according to Pol Lt Gen Suriya Singhakamol, secretary-general of the ONCB.

The poster, using the avatar name “Rose”, said a 20-kilogramme space was needed to carry “OTOP Thai goods”, referring to the One Tambon, One Product programme.

According to police, Ms Meena and her boyfriend communicated with the user and verified the person’s credibility before agreeing to a fee of 8,800 baht. Officers are investigating whether the amount is considered normal for the claimed service. The “Rose” account has since been deleted.

Narcotics police who searched Ms Meena’s condominium room in Bang Na on Monday found no illegal items, only empty parcel boxes, Justice Minister Rutthapon Naowarat said on Tuesday.

CCTV footage showed a man delivering a package in front of the condominium on June 22. It remains unclear what was inside.

The suspect’s friends said that Ms Meena had a side job as a personal shopper, taking orders, purchasing goods and shipping them to clients. The activity is normally not allowed for cabin crew but flight attendants frequently supplement their income this way.

A similar case occurred in May, when police intercepted six kilogrammes of heroin in plastic packs sewn into silk blouses. The package had been sent from northern Thailand to a Thai flight attendant who lived in Phuket, and was intended to be delivered to Australia.

The attendant, who advertised his courier services online, told police he had no idea the package contained drugs. He said it was the third shipment of its kind that he had received for delivery to Australia.

No financial irregularities

Investigators examining Ms Meena’s financial records found no irregularities. The balance in her bank account was not unusually large, Pol Lt Gen Rutthapon said.

Responding to questions about whether the attendant knew she was transporting drugs, Pol Gen Rutthapon said fairness must be extended to her for now.

“Initially, Australian authorities seized the drugs, but the investigation on the Thai side must examine other surrounding evidence,” he said.

Officers who spoke with Ms Meena’s family in Phayao said she last returned home in April. She sent her family 10,000 baht a month, according to her mother.

The mother told investigators her daughter did not earn much and she was still paying off her student loan debt, police said.

Australian authorities initially denied her bail, and it would take about four weeks to have clearer information about the case, said Pol Lt Gen Suriya of the ONCB.

Stricter drug screening

Airline captains, stewards and flight attendants are typically subjected to less stringent checks than regular passengers, but the incident makes clear that screening must be stricter, Transport Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn said.

For departing passengers, checks typically include screening for explosives, while drug detection is conducted using sniffer dogs, he said, adding that improvements are needed.

Further preventive measures will be introduced, especially for outbound passengers, as drug checks are often limited. Stricter controls are necessary, as Thailand is considered a transit point for various types of narcotics, he added.

When asked whether Thai travellers might face increased difficulty when flying abroad, he said random checks, including those involving sniffer dogs, are standard for all nationalities and do not specifically target Thais.

“Attention must now also be given to pilots and cabin crew, who were previously granted leniency, to ensure they undergo strict screening similar to regular passengers,” Mr Phiphat said.

He added that the incident was not due to negligence, as existing procedures were followed. However, concealment methods can be sophisticated, and leaks can occur in many countries. New technologies and tools will be considered for better screening, he said.

Suvarnabhumi Airport management has clarified that its X-ray scanners are primarily designed to detect explosive devices. For drug-related cases, airport officials, police and Customs Department staff exchange investigative information, intelligence and risk assessments, while conducting intensive screening of suspected individuals.

The management said that it would improve security operations and drug interdiction measures.