The Thai Customs Department said on Friday that it has recently intercepted 170 tons of poppy seeds aboard a ship docking at Laem Chabang Port, eastern Gulf of Thailand coast.
Krisada Chinavicharana, director-general of the Customs Department, said poppy seeds are categorized as Category 5 narcotic due to their use in making opium and heroin, and the seizure will be subject to more investigations.
“The poppy seeds were valued at 25 million baht (U.S. 821,562 dollars) and were shipped from Afghanistan in 6,799 bags stored in six freight containers,” Krisada said. “However the shipments were labelled as quinoa seeds and were bound for Myanmar.”
The Narcotics Act of Thailand bans the production, disposal, importing, exporting and possession of Category 5 narcotics without a government license.
Krisada said he will not reveal who is responsible for the shipment of the poppy seeds until a thorough investigation is conducted.
