Air hostess heroin case tied to transnational syndicate

Thai investigation nearly complete, Australia making 'good progress'

PUBLISHED : 6 Jul 2026 at 13:57

The Department of Special Investigation had taken over the heroin-smuggling air hostess case because it involves a transnational and organised drug network, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board said on Monday.

ONCB deputy secretary-general Areepak Ngernbamroong said the Thai end of the investigation was nearly completed and Australian authorities were also making good progress.

The 26-year-old woman, identified only as "Ms Meena", had provided useful information about the intended recipient in Australia.

Ms Areepak said.the DSI stepped in because the case involves a transnational drug cartel.

Under the DSI’s supervision, Bangkok police had identified suspects in Bangkok and the ONCB expanded the investigation to include members of the drug network in Thailand, she said.

“Information and facts gathered by different organisations will be integrated like jigsaw pieces,  put together to see a clear picture of this large-scale drug cartel. The information will be sent as a single case to public prosecutors,” Ms Areepak said.

According to the ONCB deputy secretary-general, the drug cartel operated systematically.

The drug was neatly hidden inside craft handbags in Laos. A Thai man and his Lao wife then smuggled the bags into the northeastern Thai province of Loei.

Other cartel members took the goods to outbound couriers, such as the Thai Airways stewardess who was arrested at Melbourne airport with 1.8 kilogrammes of heroin concealed in two of the many elephant handicraft bags she was carrying.

Australian police show o

ne of the handbags with heroin hidden inside. Australian Border Force