Malaysian man caught with 102kg of crystal meth in Songkhla

Anti-narcotics police arrested a Malaysian national yesterday after discovering 102 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, or ‘ice’, hidden inside his vehicle at a checkpoint in Hat Yai district in Songkhla province.

The suspect, identified as Lim Soo Lu, was intercepted on the Asia Highway near the Khlong Wa intersection while driving towards the Malaysian border.

According to investigators, Lim’s suspicious behavior during a routine stop prompted officers to conduct a thorough search of his vehicle, which revealed 102 plastic bags, each containing one kilogram of crystal meth, concealed inside a large loudspeaker cabinet in the back of the car.

During interrogation, Lim reportedly confessed to transporting the drugs from Bangkok with the intention of smuggling them to a distribution network in Malaysia. He told police he was promised a payment of 15,000 ringgit (approximately 120,000 baht) for the delivery.

"The suspect admitted that this was his second attempt at transporting narcotics across the border," a senior investigator noted.

The arrest was part of a broader crackdown on transnational drug syndicates following a significant seizure on May 5.

Police believe Thailand is increasingly being used as a transit hub for high-volume drug shipments destined for neighbouring countries.

Police are currently expanding their investigation, citing intelligence that points to several other key members of the international trafficking ring still operating within the region.