No signs of alpha-Pyrrolidinopentiophenone (Alpha-PVP), a synthetic stimulant also known as flakka or bath salts, have been detected in Thailand so far, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) says.
Sirinya Sitdhichai, secretary-general of the ONCB, was responding to social media buzz surrounding recent clips in which people in Brazil appear high and throw themselves against vehicles, apparently unaware of what they are doing.
The drug has come to be known as the "zombie" drug for the effect it has on its users.
The ONCB had checked with its Australian counterpart which has experience in detaining people suffering from the effects of similar drugs. The Australian narcotics suppression authorities said they were unaware of any recent seizures of the drug there where the suspects were intending to smuggle it to Thailand.
An ONCB source, however, admitted some types of synthetic stimulants in the same cathinone class as Alpha-PVP have been found in Thailand before, including methylone, 4-methylethcathinone (4-MEC) and methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV) which are all classed as Type 1 Narcotics.
As for flakka, it was initially sold in the US as a legal product before the discovery it could cause severe intoxication among teens.
Alpha-PVP was shown to be 10 times stronger and more dangerous than cocaine and methamphetamine while its price is low, which makes it highly accessible to people, said the source. The substance can cause the body temperature to rise up to 40 degrees Celsius, heart failure, kidney failure and death, said the source.
Meanwhile, Mr Sirinya said yesterday some Thais were believed to be involved in the trafficking of the more than 3.9 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine mixed with the ephedrine drug precursor, intercepted recently in Sydney and shipped originally from Thailand. The substances were packaged in green tea drink bottles.
The ONCB has information the illicit drugs had been smuggled from a neighbouring country into Thailand before being shipped to Australia.
They are thought to have been produced by a drugs network based in the Golden Triangle, an area that overlaps the mountains of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand, he said.
Four months ago, Australian authorities intercepted 1.4 tonnes of ephedrine, which could have been turned into crystal methamphetamine with a combined street value in Australia of AU$3.5 billion, or about 87 billion baht.
