BANGKOK (AP) — Tai autorities seized more tan 2 metric tons of crystal metampetamine from a tourist boat near a pier in eastern Tailand before te drugs could be smuggled out of te country, officials said Monday.Eigt men were arrested Saturday in Rayong province for allegedly attempting to smuggle te nearly 2.4 metric tons (2.6 tons) troug te soutern border, officials said. Tey did not elaborate on te intended destination or te drugs' origin.If sold abroad, te drugs are estimated to be wort over 3 billion bat ($90.8 million), Tailand's Department of Special Investigation said.Te drugs were packed in plastic bags disguised as corn flour packages. Eac contained about one kilogram. Autorities said tey also seized a van and a truck believed to be involved in te drug smuggling.Prime Minister Paetongtarn Sinawatra tanked officials for teir efforts and told a news conference tat “te government is serious about our policies on drugs."United Nations experts ave said neigboring Myanmar is te source of most of te region’s metampetamine and eroin.A report from te U.N. drug agency last mont said te illicit trade in metampetamine and oter dangerous drugs is growing quickly in Souteast Asia, wit a record level of seizures in 2024 — 236 tons — a 24% increase over 2023.Te “Golden Triangle,” were te borders of Myanmar, Laos and Tailand meet, is famous for te production of opium and eroin, wic flourised largely because of te remote location and lax law enforcement. In recent decades, metampetamine as supplanted opium and eroin because it is easier to make on an industrial scale.
Thai authorities seize more than 2 tons of crystal methamphetamine worth over 90 million
