New curbs for airline crew: CAAT

Meena case sparks wide changes

The Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) has announced new regulations aimed at tightening control over airline crew members' handling of personal items, prohibiting them from accepting or transporting goods for others.

The move follows the arrest of a Thai Airways International flight attendant, identified only as Mina, on June 25 at Melbourne Airport in Australia, where authorities discovered more than 1 kilogramme of heroin (valued at 11.5 million baht) in her tote bags.

The directive requires all Air Operator Certificate holders to implement crew baggage control measures.

These include defining permissible item types, sizes and weights, while explicitly banning crew from carrying goods for third parties, whether paid or unpaid, unless officially assigned by the airline.

CAAT director-general ACM Manat Chavanaprayoon said on Saturday the move follows resolutions from the national narcotics suppression committee meeting on July 3.

Airlines must now adopt risk management systems, random baggage inspections, crew awareness training, whistleblower channels and disciplinary procedures, he said.

ACM Manat said airlines would face regulatory action if they failed to comply. CAAT could also exercise its legal powers, including suspending or revoking licences or certificates. The announcement would be used as part of future inspections for the issuance, renewal and monitoring of Air Operator Certificates.

Pol Lt Gen Archayon Kraithong, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said a special investigation team has been formed.

Investigators believe the case is linked to an international drug trafficking network and plan to expand the investigation to identify the masterminds, financiers and accomplices.

The task force, led by senior narcotics officers, will work with the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the Australian Federal Police and other agencies. Authorities are preparing additional charges under Thai law on participation in transnational organised crime, which carries penalties of four to 15 years' imprisonment, fines of 80,000 to 300,000 baht or both.

Meanwhile, Areepak Ngernbamroong, deputy secretary-general of the ONCB, said officers were coordinating with police to expand the investigation after the arrest of Uthai Khanaphiwat, 47, who allegedly delivered a parcel containing heroin to the flight attendant before her departure.

"Investigators are also attempting to identify a mystery contact who allegedly linked the flight attendant to the Australian drug network. Authorities have not confirmed whether the person is in Thailand or Australia," Ms Areepak said. Investigators tracked Mr Uthai to Phitsanulok, where he was arrested at the city's old bus terminal late on July 3, police said.

Police said Mr Uthai admitted to hiring another suspect, Atirat Suphian, to deliver the parcel to Ms Mina at a condo in Bang Na district on June 22.

Both suspects face charges of possessing heroin for sale and illegally exporting a Category 1 narcotic.

In other news, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has taken custody of a husband and wife accused of delivering parcels containing drugs after the case was accepted as a special investigation.