BANGKOK, THAILAND – A Thai woman spent 20 days in Japanese jail after unwittingly carrying a package stuffed with hidden methamphetamine. Police have now smashed part of the trafficking network behind it.
Juthathip accepted the parcel just before her flight to Japan. It looked harmless – snacks and food, including coffee bags. But the bags hid the drugs.
Woman had no idea until Japanese authorities pounced
She never suspected a thing. Until customs officers in Japan found the meth.
I didn’t know for 20 days when I would get out.
said Juthathip.
Messages sounded odd – like a bad translation
Only later did Juthathip realise the messages from the recruiter seemed off. The phrasing felt unnatural, as if someone without Thai language skills had translated them.
One message read: “I will transfer the money to you now.” It didn’t sound like a real Thai employer.
Bang – the man behind the fake account
Police traced the account “ING ING” that had hired Juthathip. Investigators say a Vietnamese man named Bang is behind it.
Bang entered Thailand on July 8 via the Second Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Mukdahan. Two days later he bought food at a shopping mall in Bang Kapi and packed it together with the doped coffee bags.
Package arrived at 9:20 pm – one day before flight
Bang used an app to order a delivery driver to Juthathip’s house. The parcel arrived on July 10 at 9:20 pm.
She flew to Japan the next day. Bang left Thailand on July 12 via the Third Thai–Lao Friendship Bridge in Nakhon Phanom.
12 million Baht flowed through one account
Financial investigators found a trail leading to Tang, another Vietnamese man. He is believed to have managed the network’s money and is likely in Vietnam.
The account of an associate named Ho, who lives in Thailand, saw about 12 million Baht pass through in a single year. The cash was usually withdrawn or transferred immediately.
Ho arrested – husband questioned as witness
Officers arrested Ho on July 28. She admitted managing money but denied deeper involvement, saying she only followed Bang’s instructions.
Her husband Nguyen, Tang’s younger brother, was questioned as a witness. Police found no direct evidence against him but say further investigation is needed.
Organisers kept their distance on purpose
Investigators found no direct link between Bang and Ho. They believe the two deliberately kept their roles separate.
Bang is considered the main organiser and has already left Thailand. Police classify the case as cross-border organised crime – at least three people across two countries.
Delivery driver knew nothing
The driver who brought the package on July 10 works regularly as an app courier. He took the job normally and had no connection to the group.
It was his first and only job for the network. A different driver had handled a delivery before Juthathip’s first transport in May.
Where did the meth come from?
The origin of the drugs remains unclear. Police Major General Woraphot Ditsayabut gave two possibilities: either the drugs were packaged abroad and brought to Thailand, or they entered the country before being packed into the coffee bags.
Investigators are checking both routes. The receiver in Japan may be the same as for the first shipment in May – police say an arrest is possible.
Police warn against paid transport jobs
The anti-drug office is stepping up checks on similar cases. Police Lieutenant General Archayon listed red flags: fake online identities, last-minute requests just before travel, and goods that are easy to buy in the destination country.
Juthathip herself has learned her lesson. Asked if she would ever take a paid transport job again, she said:
I don’t think I will do that again.
said Juthathip.