Bureau of Investigation bust a life-size statue of Optimus Prime and other Transformers characters packed with massive amounts of ketamine
Life-Size Transformers Statue Packed with $20 Million Worth of Ketamine Seized by Thai Police
A shocking discovery was made by Thai police in Bangkok, as they intercepted a shipment of life-size Transformers statues filled with a whopping 705 pounds of ketamine. This bust marks one of the largest drug seizures in recent years, with an estimated market value of NT$600 million (about $20 million USD).
According to Channel News Asia (CNA), the ketamine was found on April 25, hidden inside statues of popular characters such as Optimus Prime, Bumblebee, and Greenlight. The statues were en route to a movie exhibition in Taiwan, showcasing the popular film series directed by Michael Bay and based on the beloved toy franchise.
In a clever attempt to evade authorities, the drug traffickers had hidden the ketamine in the least likely of places – inside the statues themselves. As reported by Fox News, the Thai police seized 320 kilograms (705 pounds) of ketamine in a freight warehouse. The suspect had allegedly packed the drugs into 320 packages, each containing one kilo of ketamine, and concealed them with an outer layer of Tieguanyin tea. The packages were then stuffed into 10 bases of the model robots, with each base containing 32 packs of ketamine.
The suspect, an unidentified woman, had paid around $4,800 USD to a shipping company to help her transport the statues. Authorities believe she had received instructions from another unidentified woman in Laos, who was supposed to receive the shipment of drugs. Phanurat Lukboon, secretary-general of Thailand’s Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), held a press conference to explain the case.
“Currently, we are facing a drug trafficking problem with transnational crime networks hidden in all regions, using Thailand as a base to smuggle drugs to third countries continuously through international shipments via air or sea,” said Police Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lhakbun.
This is not the first time drug traffickers have used creative methods to hide their illegal substances. In March, Australian police found 220 pounds of methamphetamine hidden inside a food processing machine. This discovery led them to keep a close eye on the suspect’s activities, ultimately leading to the discovery of an even larger stash of drugs.
In response to the growing issue of drug trafficking, the ONCB has implemented cooperation projects with the Airport Interdiction Task Force and the Seaport Interdiction Task Force to intercept drugs in airports and seaports. Thai police also worked with the Bureau of Investigation to hold a meeting in Bangkok on April 24, leading to the discovery of the ketamine the following day.
According to Thai police, the drugs were allegedly transferred via Laos and originated from Cambodia. The Bureau of Investigation is currently investigating potential Taiwanese accomplices. This bust serves as a reminder of the ongoing battle against drug trafficking and the need for continued cooperation and vigilance.
