The authorities yesterday seized over 11 tons of ketamine with a street value of nearly US$1 billion.
Investigators found more than 450 bags of the ketamine, each containing 25 kilograms of the part drug and making for 11.4 tons total, at a warehouse in Chachoengsao province to the east of Bangkok, according to Montri Yimyaem, head of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.
The drugs are worth THB28.7 billion or nearly US$1 billion. Many reports have headlined the story as the “biggest ketamine bust in Thailand.”
Investigators say they’re suspicious of a multinational trafficking network, as they don’t believe ketamine is popularly used in Thailand, according to Montri. He said his team would take the matter up with international law enforcement and other countries in finding those involved.
“The drug is not popular in Thailand. It’s mostly sold abroad such as in Europe, Australia, Taiwan, Japan and Korea,” said Montri, who’s clearly not been getting out at night in Bangkok.
Just earlier this year, 300 kilograms of ketamine were discovered in Taiwan that had come from Thailand by sea.
