Thai courier held in Japan after meth found hidden in coffee packages

A 28-year-old Thai woman who worked as a paid courier transporting parcels to Japan, has been detained in Fukuoka after airport officials allegedly found crystal methamphetamine (ice) concealed inside coffee packages.

The incident occurred at around 7am on July 12 when the woman, identified only as Jutatip, arrived in Japan on a flight from Thailand.

Her boyfriend, identified only as Sarawut, said that he, Jutatip, and another friend worked as freelance couriers, transporting goods for Thai nationals living in Japan.

Last year, Jutatip created a Line group called 'Thienthien Shop', offering a parcel delivery service.

Sarawut said that on July 10, a Line user with the display name 'Ing Ing' contacted the group and hired Jutatip to transport a parcel weighing about 12kg to Japan.

The shipment was packed inside a brown cardboard box tightly sealed with tape. He said he was unsure whether Jutatip had opened the package to inspect its contents.

He added that Ing Ing had previously used their courier service in May.

When the group arrived at Fukuoka Airport, Jutatip was detained, while Sarawut and their friend were questioned by airport authorities for almost 11 hours, from around 8am to 7pm. They were later released, but Juthathip remained in custody.

At the time, the authorities had not informed them of the specific allegations against her.

The following day, Sarawut visited the Thai Consulate-General in Fukuoka to seek information about Jutatip's situation.

Consular officials advised him to wait for the Japanese police to complete their initial investigation.

On July 22, Jutatip's family received a letter from the Thai consulate stating that methamphetamine had been found concealed inside coffee packages among the items she had transported.

According to Sarawut, the group had carried nine boxes on that trip.

All the customers later collected their parcels in Japan, except for the customer using the Line name 'Ing Ing', who has since blocked all contact.

He said that the customer had paid 3,600 baht for the delivery service using a bank account in the name of 'HO THI MAI'.

Jutatip's mother said the family was shocked when they were informed by the Thai consulate that their daughter had been arrested on suspicion of importing illegal drugs into Japan.

She said the family immediately filed a police report at Bang Bua Thong Police Station and requested access to CCTV footage from the housing estate where Jutatip lived to identify the person who delivered the parcel.

According to the family, investigators have since identified that person, and all available evidence has been handed over to the investigation team at Bang Bua Thong Police Station.

The family said they have been unable to contact Jutatip since her detention and are urging the relevant Thai authorities to monitor the case closely and provide assistance as the legal proceedings continue in Japan.