The Customs Department in Thailand has arrested a South African man for attempting to smuggle 17.5 kilograms of heroin from the country.
“The Customs Department, protecting society, arrested a foreign male passenger for smuggling 17.5 kilograms of heroin hidden in coffee and green tea bags, worth over 7.3 million baht,” the department said.
“On July 9, 2026, the Customs Department, through its Investigation and Suppression Division, inspected and searched the luggage of a South African male passenger travelling from Kuala Lumpur International Airport, Malaysia, via Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand, destined for Ivato International Airport, Madagascar.”
According to the department, heroin is a Category 1 narcotic.
“If the drugs had reached their destination in Madagascar, their value would have been over 22.75 million baht,” the department said.
“This constitutes an offence of importing Category 1 narcotics (heroin) into the Kingdom without permission, a violation of the Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017) and the Narcotics Code.”
Customs officials in Thailand apprehended a South African man attempting to smuggle 17.5kg of heroin hidden in coffee and green tea bags.
This is how social media users reacted to the incident:
One said: “There are good South Africans. The bad ones make us all look bad.” While another said: “Drug trafficking by choice is the dumbest decision ever.”
Meanwhile, last month, the Customs Department arrested a South African woman for trying to smuggle 16kg of heroin worth 48 million baht, which would have been worth over 96 million baht upon reaching its destination.
The department said that the Investigation and Suppression Division of the Customs Department, along with the Phuket Airport Customs checkpoint, inspected a South African woman travelling from Phuket International Airport to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda.
Customs officials uncover 16kg of heroin in the luggage of a South African woman at Phuket International Airport.
“The inspection revealed 16,000 grams of heroin, a Category 1 narcotic, hidden inside bags of pet food. The estimated value is over 48 million baht, and its potential value would exceed 96 million baht upon reaching its destination,” the department said.
It stated the offence violates the Customs Act and the Narcotics Code by exporting Category 1 narcotics without permission.
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