South African Woman Arrested at Phuket Airport with 16kg of Heroin Hidden in Pet Food

A South African woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport after authorities allegedly discovered around 16 kilograms of heroin concealed inside her luggage.

The suspect, identified only as 32-year-old Buhle, was detained at approximately 6 p.m. on June 11 at the oversized baggage drop-off area on the third floor of the airport’s international terminal in Mai Khao, Thalang district.

According to police, customs officers and narcotics suppression units became suspicious after detecting irregularities in a blue wheeled suitcase belonging to the passenger. A thorough inspection reportedly revealed multiple packages containing heroin.

Investigators said the narcotics were packed in transparent plastic bags, wrapped in black tape, and hidden inside seven bags of commercially branded dog and cat food. The total weight of the seized drugs and packaging was estimated at about 16 kilograms.

Authorities also confiscated a Samsung mobile phone and a foreign SIM card as part of the investigation.

Following the arrest, the suspect and the seized evidence were transferred to the Customs Office at Phuket International Airport’s cargo facility for further examination before being handed over to investigators at Sakhu Police Station.

According to local reports, the woman has been charged with attempting to smuggle heroin out of Thailand, possessing a Category 1 narcotic, and violating provisions of Thailand’s Customs Act B.E. 2560 (2017), along with other related offences.

Officials stated that the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts to disrupt international drug trafficking networks and prevent Thailand from being used as a transit route for narcotics destined for overseas markets.

The case follows another airport drug-related arrest earlier this year, when a Bangladeshi woman was detained at Phuket International Airport after authorities allegedly found cocaine and forged documents in her possession before a scheduled international flight.