Pakistani held in 2kg airport cocaine bust

Pakistani Tahir Butt shows his ID card after his arrest at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday. He allegedly swallowed 2kg of cocaine destined for other countries. Thiti Wannamontha

A Pakistani man was arrested on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport yesterday morning with almost 2kg of cocaine in capsules in his stomach, police said.

The arrest of Tahir Butt, 45, was made by a team of Thai Interpol, Crime Suppression Division and immigration police after a tip-off from Pakistan Interpol that a Pakistani man was travelling by air to Thailand after having swallowed cocaine pellets.

After being arrested, the man was sent to the Police Hospital for an X-ray, which revealed that there was an estimated 2kg of cocaine in capsules in his body.

The head of Thai Interpol, Pol Maj Gen Apichart Suriboonya, said the suspect swallowed the drugs and caught the flight from Pakistan.

Once in Thailand, Pol Maj Gen Apichart said Mr Butt was supposed to meet with members of a gang that intended to deliver the drugs to Colombo in Sri Lanka where the cocaine was to be distributed to destinations in Australia and Europe.

Before Mr Butt's capture, Pol Maj Gen Apichart said national police chief Chakthip Chaijinda had instructed his deputy, Pol Gen Suthep Detraksa, to plan the operation to arrest the suspect.

The multi-agency plan was finalised before police were put on standby at the Suvarnabhumi airport.

The suspect was identified and apprehended shortly after he stepped out of the plane.

He was immediately taken to the Police General Hospital for an X-ray which showed many cocaine-filled capsules in his stomach. He has been charged with possessing and concealing narcotics.

Pol Gen Chakthip said the government has a clear policy to prevent the use of the country as a drug transit point and to suppress transnational crimes, which helps secure the confidence of tourists and investors.

Interpol provides an essential channel for the exchange of information that is useful for police efficiency in combatting crimes, he said.