Slush machines utilized by ‘artistic’ drug smuggling gang to stash haul of heroin

Two innocent-looking slush machines have been busted open by cops and found to contain a huge haul of heroin.

Inside the drink dispensers destined for Taiwan were 40 bars of the drug weighing 14.8 kilograms. Police Lt Gen Phanurat Lukboon, the Narcotics Control Board’s secretary-general, revealed that that each dispenser was ingeniously modified to conceal the contraband, Thai.News reports.

Discovered in a warehouse in Bangkok, the street value was estimated to be around 100 million baht (£2.2m). The transformation of the dispensers was executed with such precision that their weight remained unchanged.

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Authorities confirmed that one Thai national has been arrested as officers displayed the careful concealment of the bricks of heroin, packaged into the outer frame of one of the slush machines.

Police had several of the packages on display for media as armed guards stood on behind.

They revealed the machines were intercepted from a shipping company in Bangkok on May 14, already prepared to be shipping to Taiwan.

The incident highlights the ever-evolving tactics in the narcotics drugs trade described by some as “crazy but genius” as authorities strive to crackdown on gangs.

Police believe the slush gang are the same outfit that tried to smuggle 320kg of ketamine hidden inside toy Transformers models to Taiwan last month, according to Taiwan news.

It was also linked to the discovery of heroin bricks worth millions that were found hidden inside a coffee machine in Kaohsiung last year.

Since October last year authorities have made as many as 80 cases of arrests and seizures of drugs including heroin, cocaine, ketamine and ecstasy as the region battles rife international drug trafficking.

As many as 74 individuals have so far been arrested during the hunt, The Thaiger reported.

The most popular destinations for export were Australia, New Zealand, Taiwan, Malaysia and South Korea.

Thailand’s position in the so-called ‘Golden Triangle’ makes it a strategic passage for groups looking to move shipments on to more lucrative markets, the Mail reports.

The region has been one of the largest global opium producers since the 1950s and continues to traffic huge quantities of hard drugs.

Since the latest haul was seized, many rushed to have their say on the story.

One said: “It’s absolutely shocking how creative these drug smugglers are getting. I never would’ve thought twice about a slushie machine. Makes you wonder what else we’re blindly trusting.”

Another replied: “True, it’s crazy, but also kinda genius when you think about it.”

One wrote: “Every time authorities figure out one method, smugglers are two steps ahead with another. It’s a never-ending game.”

While another added: “The creativity of criminals never ceases to amaze me. Using slushie machines is something out of a movie!”

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