Police arrest parcel courier 'who delivered heroin to air hostess to take to Australia'
Police have arrested a parcel courier who allegedly delivered heroin to an air hostess to take to Australia.
Uthai Khanapiwat, 42, was detained at his home in Phitsanulok as narcotics officers investigated a suspected cross-border drug syndicate in Thailand.
He was accused of supplying heroin to glamorous air hostess and former beauty queen Mina, who was arrested at Melbourne Airport on June 25, where Australian Border Force officers reportedly discovered drugs in her tote bags.
Cops raided Uthai's apartment late evening on July 3, before he could escape towards the Mae Sot border in Tak province.
During questioning, Uthai, a Hmong man, allegedly admitted to being the hoodie-wearing individual who dropped off the heroin parcel at Mina's residence.
He claimed the parcel came from Phayao province, along the border of the 'Golden Triangle' drugs hub in Southeast Asia.
As police marched him out of his room, Uthai apologised to Mina, saying: 'I'm sorry to the flight attendant. I'm sorry for what I did. I truly apologise.'
Officers also arrested suspected syndicate member Nanthawat, 59, in Ayutthaya province as they expanded the probe.
Officers recovered seven torn elephant-print tote bags and traces of white powder extracted from the fabric lining, similar to the bags seized from Mina.
The substance later tested positive for heroin.
Nanthawat allegedly admitted receiving a black bag containing six heroin-filled tote bags from Uthai.
He told investigators he panicked upon learning Mina had been arrested in Australia and contacted Uthai, who allegedly told him to do 'whatever he wanted' with the bags.
Nanthawat allegedly sliced open the tote bags with a knife, dumped the heroin into a toilet, and disposed of the cut-up fabric in several locations across Ayutthaya in an attempt to destroy the evidence.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Thanpeerasit Chulapiphob said officers later recovered a black bag containing pieces of the discarded elephant-patterned tote bags along Highway 4040.
He added: ‘A black bag containing the remaining pieces of the Thai elephant-patterned tote bags was recovered.
‘Forensic officers extracted white powder from the fabric scraps, and preliminary testing confirmed it was heroin.
‘We recorded the arrest before handing Nanthawat over to the inquiry officer at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for legal proceedings.
‘We are expanding the investigation to bring the remaining accomplices to justice.'
Tall brunette Mina, who had previously won beauty pageants, was charged with importing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug and possessing a marketable quantity of a border-controlled drug, both of which carry a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment.
She was remanded in custody on June 26 and is scheduled to reappear before the Melbourne Magistrates' Court on September 14.
