Thai police have seized more than 14 million methamphetamine pills worth 1.48 billion THB (45 million USD) that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond, authorities said on August 21.
Thai police have seized more than 14 million methamphetamine pills that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond (Photo: Reuters/VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – Thai police have seizedmore than 14 million methamphetamine pills worth 1.48 billion THB (45 millionUSD) that were bound for neighbouring Malaysia and beyond, authorities said onAugust 21.
According to police, the orange pills ofmethamphetamine were confiscated in the northern province of Ayutthaya onAugust 18. Three Thais were arrested in connection with the seizure.
The drugs came from Shan State in northeastMyanmar in an area under the control of an ethnic Wa militia force.
Commander of the Narcotics Suppression BureauLieutenant General Sommai Kongvisaisuk said the drugs were destined forMalaysia and then on to other markets around the world.
The seizure is the latest big methamphetaminebust in the Southeast Asian region. Similar cases had been made in Malaysia andIndonesia.
The production and trafficking ofmethamphetamine in Southeast Asia has reached “alarming levels”, according tothe United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
Most of the methamphetamine produced in theregion comes from lawless parts of Myanmar, particularly Shan State, which haslong been known for the production of opium and its refined form, heroin.-VNA
Thailand’s investment drive will focus on three aspects of the country’s agenda – national competitiveness, a reduction in income disparity, and sustainability, Deputy Prime Minister Somkid Jatusripitak has said.
Thailand’s economy in April-June grew at a slower pace than in the previous quarter, but the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) kept its yearly GDP growth forecast of the country at 4.2-4.7 percent.
The key content of the document titled "Accelerating Innovative Strategies: Addressing the OOSCY Challenges" will be refined further in a seminar preceding the 47th ASEAN Summit in Kuala Lumpur this October.
This follows Telegram’s serious failure to address the content that has been repeatedly reported to them, despite various efforts of negotiation and cooperation made by MCMC, it said.
Efforts to empower women must transcend dialogue and translate into concrete commitments, including corporate pledges and government partnerships, according to the spouse of Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim.
The forum featured two in-depth discussion sessions, engaging representatives from governments, think tanks, and businesses from both ASEAN and China, on how to forge closer ties for a common future.
The new FIFA Hub in Jakarta will not only support football development in Indonesia but also serve as a coordination centre for 21 football associations across Southeast and East Asia.
Minister Counselor Nguyen Hoang Nguyen reaffirmed Vietnam’s principled and consistent stance on the Palestine issue, calling for an immediate and lasting ceasefire across the entire Gaza Strip.
PM Anwar Ibrahim affirmed the determination of Malaysia, as ASEAN Chair for 2025, to utilise all viable regional mechanisms of the bloc and work with partners to de-escalate violence and restore a peace process led by Myanmar.
Talking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Vietnam’s Revolutionary Press Day (June 21, 1925–2025), Nikulina, who is also a veteran journalist of Russia’s Sputnik News, emphasised the vital role of mainstream journalism in defending the truth and maintaining public trust.
The Ministry of Commerce reported that imports also rose 18% to 29.9 billion USD during the same period, resulting in a trade surplus of 1.1 billion USD. In May alone, Thailand posted a 4.6 billion USD trade surplus with the US and a 4.1 billion USD trade deficit with China.
The World Bank will provide a 2.1 billion USD financing package for Indonesia, focusing oncreating jobs, stimulating economic growth, and enhancing access to clean energy across the country.
Member states also reviewed progress on six priority areas for 2025, including the development of an underground cable framework, the follow-up agreement to the ASEAN Petroleum Security Agreement (APSA), the launch of the ASEAN Energy Efficiency Database, and the rollout of an investment platform for sustainable building initiatives.
In March, Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra met with Formula 1 chief Stefano Domenicali and said Thailand would commission a feasibility study into hosting a Grand Prix on a Bangkok street circuit from 2028.
The proposed giant sea wall aligns with bilateral cooperation and has been designated a national priority, considering that several regions in Indonesia are experiencing land subsidence of 10–15 centimetres per year.
International flights were cancelled including Jetstar and Virgin Australia flights to cities across Australia, and flights of Air India, Air New Zealand, Singapore's TigerAir and China's Juneyao Airlines.
The partnership aims to strengthen collaboration in the exploration and exploitation of mineral resources, including gold, copper, and manganese, as well as in the development of steel, aluminum, and renewable energy industries.
The Thai cabinet has approved a seven-year EV bus leasing scheme proposed by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) for the capital, with an estimated cost of 15.35 billion THB (over 470 million USD).
Aircraft are prohibited from flying below 6,000 metres in the vicinity of the volcano, and should also remain alert to the presence of volcanic ash, which can disrupt flights.
Laos declared the transfer of the press management functions of five key media agencies and associated personnel to the Propaganda and Training Board of the Lao People's Revolutionary Party Central Committee.