South African woman arrested at Phuket airport with 16kg of heroin hidden in pet food bags
Police in Phuket said a 32-year-old South African woman, identified as Buhle Jali, was arrested at the airport on June 11 after about 16kg of heroin was allegedly found hidden in pet food bags inside her suitcase.
A 32-year-old South African woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport on June 11 after officers allegedly found about 16 kilogrammes of heroin hidden inside her suitcase, according to police.
The arrest took place at about 6pm at the oversized baggage inspection area on the third floor of the international passenger terminal in Mai Khao subdistrict, Thalang district. The woman was identified as Buhle Jali.
Customs officers, Sakhu police and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau carried out the arrest after becoming suspicious of a blue soft-sided wheeled suitcase she was checking in for travel. The operation was conducted under the direction of Sakhu Police Superintendent Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul, with Deputy Investigation Superintendent Pol Lt Col Rattanawut Nukaeo and members of the station’s investigation team taking part.
According to authorities, a search uncovered white powder heroin packed in clear plastic bags and wrapped in black tape. The packages had allegedly been concealed inside seven bags of dog and cat food of various brands, including Purina, SmartHeart Holistic and SmartHeart Gold, in an apparent attempt to evade detection.
Police said the seized narcotics and packaging weighed about 16 kilogrammes in total. According to the Customs Department, the woman had been due to travel from Phuket to Entebbe International Airport in Uganda. Officials estimated the seized heroin to have a street value of about 48 million baht in Thailand and said its value could have exceeded 96 million baht at the intended destination.
Investigators also seized a mobile phone containing a foreign SIM card as evidence and said the device was being examined as part of efforts to identify others linked to the smuggling operation. Authorities said an active investigation was under way to trace the original source of the seized narcotics.
After the arrest, the suspect and the seized items were taken to the Customs Office at Phuket International Airport’s cargo building for examination and processing. She was later handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station for further legal action.
Police said the woman was charged with attempting to export a Category 1 narcotic, heroin, from Thailand without permission and possessing a Category 1 narcotic without permission under Thailand’s Narcotics Code and Customs Act.
Pol Col Salan Santisasanakul reported the arrest and the seizure to provincial police commanders on June 13.
Authorities said the case formed part of ongoing efforts to disrupt transnational drug trafficking networks using Thailand as a transit point to smuggle narcotics overseas.
