Two Maldivians Arrested in Bangkok Over Seizure of Crystal Meth and Cannabis

Two Maldivian nationals were arrested by Thai law enforcement in Bangkok following the seizure of 2.37 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 10 kilograms of cannabis. 

The methamphetamine was hidden inside stainless steel tumblers, and the 10 kilograms of cannabis were concealed among children’s clothing. According to reports by local news outlet The Thaiger, the suspects, identified by investigators as 46-year-old Ali Rasheed and 34-year-old Mohamed Wisam, were taken into custody following a multi-stage operation traced to a cargo service in the Pratunam area.

advertisement

advertisement

The investigation commenced on October 5, 2026, after police received a tip-off stating that a foreign man had brought several large, heavily taped boxes to a local freight service for export. Despite being tightly sealed, the parcels emitted an unusually strong, suspicious odour, prompting facility staff to refuse the shipment and direct the individual to retrieve the packages before authorities were alerted.

Following up on the tip, investigators located the suspicious parcels stored beneath a residential building in Soi Phetchaburi 11, within the Ratchathewi district, where they were apparently awaiting dispatch through an alternative courier service. Police placed the site under active surveillance and moved in when officers observed the two Maldivian suspects loading the boxes onto a motorised tuk-tuk for transport.

A detailed inspection of the five seized parcel boxes revealed a deliberate attempt to disguise illicit narcotics among routine commercial goods, including children’s clothing and toy cars. Roughly 2.37 kilograms of crystal meth was distributed across eight stainless steel insulated tumblers, with approximately 200 to 300 grams packed into each container, while approximately 10 kilograms of cannabis buds were tightly wrapped in thick tape and embedded inside bundles of children’s apparel.

Both men were transported to the Phaya Thai Police Station and formally charged with joint possession and intent to distribute a Category 1 narcotic without authorisation. During interrogation, both suspects denied the allegations, maintaining they were unaware the packages contained illegal substances and claiming a mutual friend had asked them to handle the shipment on their behalf after the initial delivery firm rejected it. 

Thailand law enforcement authorities are expanding the investigation to determine whether the two men are tied to a wider international drug trafficking network and are currently pursuing additional foreign nationals suspected of involvement in the operation.

Enforced under statutory frameworks such as the Narcotics Act and the Psychotropic Substances Act, Thailand’s legal system imposes severe penalties for drug offences, with severe crimes like drug trafficking carrying potential sentences of life imprisonment or the death penalty.