Two Maldivian tourists arrested with crystal meth hidden in thermal cups for shipment

Two Maldivian tourists were arrested with crystal meth hidden in thermal cups packed for shipment in Thailand.

Ali Rasheed, 46, and Mohamed Wisam, 34, allegedly took several large, heavily taped parcels to a shipping company in the Pratunam area of Bangkok.

But staff became suspicious when a strong odour began coming from the packages.

They refused to accept the shipment before alerting police to the shady goods, suspected of being illegal drugs.

Officers then tracked the suspects to an apartment in the Phetchaburi area, where the pair were spotted hailing a tuk-tuk to transport the packages.

Police moved in to detain the Rasheed and Wisam before inspecting the boxes.

Cops found eight stainless steel thermal cups, each packed with around 200 to 300 grams of crystal meth, weighing 2.37kg in total.

They also seized around 10kg of cannabis buds hidden in tightly wrapped bundles of children's clothing, along with toys and other goods.

Rasheed and Wisam reportedly denied knowing the parcels contained drugs, claiming a friend had asked them to handle the shipment.

They said they had kept the packages at their apartment after the shipping company rejected them because of the strong smell.

Police Major General Worasak Pisitbannakorn, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, said both men were charged with jointly distributing Category 1 narcotics and possessing methamphetamine for distribution.

He added: 'I have instructed investigators to find out whether these suspects are connected to any international drug trafficking networks.

'If we uncover other foreign groups involved in drug-related offences, we will take legal action against them and make sure they face the full force of the law.'