Turkish Passenger Arrested in Bangkok with 12kg of Cocaine Hidden in Coffee and Chocolate

A Turkish national has been arrested at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport after customs officers allegedly discovered 12 kilograms of cocaine concealed inside packages of coffee and chocolate.

According to Thailand's Customs Department, the suspect arrived on June 25 aboard a flight from Brazil. During a routine baggage inspection, officers uncovered cocaine, classified as a Category 2 narcotic under Thai law, hidden among food products.

Authorities said the seized drugs weighed approximately 12 kilograms and have an estimated street value of 36 million baht.

The suspect has been charged with illegally importing a Category 2 narcotic into Thailand. The case has been filed under both the Customs Act and Thailand's Narcotics Code.

Photographs released by the Customs Department show that the cocaine had been compressed into multiple brick-shaped packages before being concealed inside bags of ground coffee and chocolate products.

Investigators believe the smugglers used this method in an attempt to disguise the scent of the drugs and avoid detection by customs officers and sniffer dogs.

Officials have not disclosed where the shipment was intended to be delivered or whether investigators have identified any recipients inside Thailand.

The seizure comes amid continued efforts by Thai authorities to dismantle cocaine trafficking networks, following several recent operations targeting distributors operating within the country.