Flight attendant caught with heroin in Australia prompts Thailand airport crackdown

A Thai Airways Boeing 777-300ER plane takes off from Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport, Feb. 23, 2015. Photo by Reuters

The Thai Government is strengthenning security and screening measures at airports to prevent drug trafficking, following the arrest of a crew member of national carrier Thai Airways in Australia on allegations of heroin smuggling.

On July 1, during a working visit to France, Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul instructed the PM’s Office to coordinate with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the Airports of Thailand and other relevant agencies to convene an urgent meeting on July 3 to review and strengthen measures aimed at preventing and combating drug smuggling through the country’s airports.

According to PM Anutin, the decision was prompted not only by the recent case, but also by a growing number of incidents in which foreign traffickers have allegedly used Thailand as a transit point or point of departure for drug shipments destined for Australia.

He added that such activities could damage the country's reputation, particularly as it seeks to strengthen its position as a regional aviation hub and pursue membership in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) by 2028.

The Thai Customs said it is reviewing operational procedures to address loopholes in anti-drug trafficking efforts while stepping up the use of intelligence and risk-management measures to identify and inspect high-risk passengers and their luggage. The approach, widely adopted at international airports, is intended to enhance the effectiveness of security controls while minimizing inconvenience for law-abiding travellers.