How drug gangs use social media to recruit Thai air crew as couriers

Drug trafficking networks are increasingly leveraging social media to enlist flight attendants as international drug couriers, exploiting their travel opportunities. A recent case highlighted this trend when a Thai Airways flight attendant was arrested in Australia for allegedly importing over a kilogram of heroin.

The flight attendant, who spoke to Reuters on condition of anonymity, revealed she received a direct message on TikTok from an account named "Powder is Powder" asking about her travel to Australia and willingness to carry items for hire. She ignored the message, recalling warnings against such activities.

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I don't reply to strangers like this. We've been constantly warned about this, no carry-for-hire. It's a well-known rule.

Authorities confirmed the account was linked to drug trafficking operations that use fake social media profiles to find individuals for cross-border smuggling. The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) is investigating, with preliminary findings suggesting the account used multiple aliases. Thai Airways stated it adheres to strict employee conduct rules and will cooperate with investigations.

Trafficking networks procure drugs, primarily heroin from neighboring Myanmar where opium poppy cultivation has reached a decade-high, and smuggle them through Thailand. They target specific travelers, including flight attendants, to transport these substances. In the case of the arrested attendant, she had reportedly agreed to a fee of 8,800 baht ($265.46) to carry bags containing heroin with an estimated street value of A$500,000 ($347,150). Authorities also intercepted plans to send five more packages from Bangkok to Australia and Taiwan.

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The account has now been shut down. The ONCB is investigating, and preliminary findings indicate that the account used many different names.