A Thai Airways flight attendant was arrested on June 30, 2026, at Melbourne Airport for smuggling more than 1 kilogram of heroin concealed in several tote bags, authorities said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The heroin was valued at around 500,000 Australian dollars (approximately 11 million New Taiwan dollars) [2, 3, 4, 5].

The flight attendant had communicated with a Facebook user named “Rose Rose” and agreed to a fee of 8,800 Thai Baht (about 8,500 New Taiwan dollars) to carry the drugs abroad [2, 3, 4, 5]. Drug syndicates in Thailand have increasingly targeted airline staff via social media platforms such as TikTok and Facebook to recruit couriers for trafficking, according to officials [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Suriya Singhakamol, Secretary General of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), said, “Drug syndicates in Thailand specifically target flight attendants and others who frequently travel to smuggle drugs overseas” [3].

A 30-year-old flight attendant working for a regional low-cost carrier in Bangkok reported receiving similar messages via TikTok but declined them, citing company warnings. “We have always been warned never to carry for hire, this is a rule everyone knows,” the attendant said [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. Thai anti-drug authorities have identified a fake social media account named “粉就是粉” linked to drug trafficking groups recruiting couriers. The account was shut down and investigations continue, said spokesperson Areepak Ngernbamroong [2, 3, 4, 5].

Apart from the 1 kg heroin seized from the flight attendant, authorities confiscated an additional 24.38 kilograms hidden in traditional handicrafts, silk clothing, coffee packs, and winter jackets destined for Australia and Taiwan around June 30 to July 1 [2, 3, 4, 5]. The heroin supply originates from neighboring countries with large drug production, notably Myanmar, where poppy cultivation reached a 10-year high in 2025 [2, 3, 4, 5].

Thai Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul addressed the issue on July 3 during an anti-drug committee meeting, stating, “According to reports, in the first half of this year, there have already been at least six cases of people travelling from Thailand who were charged with commercial drug trafficking. This is considered a high number … and it damages the country's image” [1, 5].

Thai Airways emphasized it enforces strict regulations on staff and is cooperating fully with authorities in the ongoing investigation [5].