The Narcotics Control Board are warning about cartoon-character labeled ecstasy pills that are being smuggled from Europe and heading for Thailand and a growing market of younger users. Some of the colourful pills had been cast as characters from Minions movies and The Simpsons.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board Deputy Secretary-General Niyom Termsrisook told reporters about the ecstasy pills following the arrest of a woman in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok, last week. The woman was arrested with almost 28,000 cartoon-character ecstasy pills on October 8. Niyom said they had been tracked back to a European supplier.
“The pills were produced in France and the Netherlands. Drug dealers have also been expanding their markets to south east Asia. The drugs are smuggled through airports in Cambodia and Vietnam.” The pills are stored in Cambodia before being smuggled through natural border passages to Thailand.
Niyom alleged the smugglers were victims of human traffickers hired by African syndicates.
He said that local sellers of the ecstasy pills are targeting young pub goers as the drugs have a sex-stimulant effect.
A source at the ONCB said a quantity of cartoon-character ecstasy pills was earlier seized at Suvarnabhumi airport in the capital. The pills were smuggled from the Netherlands where they were priced at 60 Baht per pill.
By The Thaiger
Source: Chiang Rai Times
Photo: CTN News
