Drugs carried by Thai flight attendant in Australia were produced in Myanmar, says Thai Narcotics Police, both countries investigating entire drug network

Yangon, July 6 The drugs seized in the case of Ms. Mina, a flight attendant from Thai Airways arrested for transporting narcotics to Australia, were produced in Myanmar, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) of Thailand announced. Ms. Mina, a flight attendant for Thai Airways, was arrested at Melbourne Airport in Australia on June 25 for drug smuggling. Australian police discovered and seized over 1 kilogram of methamphetamine from one of the 12 handbags with traditional Thai elephant patterns that she was carrying. According to the investigation by the Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the methamphetamine was produced in Myanmar and smuggled into northern Thailand via northern Laos to evade border checks. Uthai Khanapiwat, who is accused of delivering the drugs to the flight attendant, was arrested in Phitsanulok Province. Thai police stated that he confessed to delivering the handbags and drugs to the flight attendant's condominium in Bangkok on June 22. Furthermore, Uthai reportedly confessed to having transported similar drugs up to three times in the past. According to the Thai Narcotics Suppression Bureau, after the news of the flight attendant's arrest at Melbourne Airport broke, Uthai immediately exchanged his mobile phone and attempted to quickly destroy the remaining drugs in his possession. Due to these circumstances, the police are suspicious of some of Uthai's statements and are continuing their investigation to uncover the entire drug trafficking network, according to the announcement. Currently, investigative teams from Thailand and Australia are continuing their joint investigation to uncover this cross-border drug trafficking network.