One more suspect has been arrested in the heroin trafficking case linked to a Thai Airways flight attendant arrested in Australia on June 25, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau says (NSB).
The NSB said on Sunday that it had arrested a man identified as Nantawat Yingpatthanawong, 47, from Phayao province, on charges of jointly possessing and trafficking a Category 1 narcotic for commercial purposes.
He was arrested in a rented room in Ayutthaya after agents gathered enough evidence to link him to a drug smuggling ring, the NSB said.
Police said Mr Nantawat played a key role in a drug trafficking network allegedly led by Uthai Khanaphiwat, 47, who is accused of delivering a parcel containing about 900 grammes of heroin to the flight attendant before her departure to Australia.
Mr Uthai, from Nan province, was arrested in Phitsanulok on Saturday as he allegedly attempted to flee the country.
During questioning, Mr Nantawat reportedly confessed that he had been asked by Mr Uthai to hold on to black plastic bags containing elephant-pattern tote bags.
He later discovered that heroin had been sewn into the bags' inner lining, police said.
Police said Mr Nantawat started disposing of the bags after learning about the flight attendant's arrest.
Some of the bags were later recovered by police.
The investigation stems from the arrest of the flight attendant at Melbourne Airport on June 25.
The 25-year-old allegedly had about 900 grammes of heroin in her possession.
She faces a maximum penalty of 25 years' imprisonment if convicted of drug trafficking. Her first court appearance is scheduled for Sept 14.
