{"id":32439,"date":"2026-03-06T07:19:55","date_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:19:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/thai-nationals-get-life-17-years-for-massive-meth-smuggling-operation\/"},"modified":"2026-03-06T07:19:55","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T12:19:55","slug":"thai-nationals-get-life-17-years-for-massive-meth-smuggling-operation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/thai-nationals-get-life-17-years-for-massive-meth-smuggling-operation\/","title":{"rendered":"Thai Nationals Get Life, 17 Years for Massive Meth Smuggling Operation"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n

Courts in Indonesia have delivered severe punishments to two Thai citizens involved in transporting an enormous quantity of methamphetamine, marking one of the nation’s most significant narcotics seizures in recent memory.<\/p>

On Friday, judicial authorities in Batam imposed a life sentence on Weerapat Phongwan for his role in coordinating and supervising the drug distribution network, according to court officials. His co-defendant, Teerapong Lekpradub, received a 17-year prison term after being convicted of serving as a middleman in the narcotics transaction.<\/p>

The arrests took place last May when Indonesian law enforcement intercepted a fishing vessel carrying 67 containers filled with methamphetamine totaling nearly 2 tons in weight. Court records reveal the drugs had been concealed inside tea bag packaging, as demonstrated in police footage from the investigation.<\/p>

Authorities apprehended the suspects in maritime territory off Karimun in the Riau Islands province, located close to Singapore. Along with the two Thai nationals, four Indonesian citizens were also taken into custody during the operation.<\/p>

The legal proceedings continued Thursday when the same court sentenced another defendant, Fandi Ramadhan, to five years behind bars. Verdicts for the remaining three accused individuals are expected to be announced next week.<\/p>

The case gained widespread attention on social media platforms after Ramadhan’s relatives appealed to President Prabowo Subianto, requesting presidential intervention to secure his release.<\/p>

According to local news sources, the narcotics originated from Phuket, Thailand, and investigators believe they were supplied by an international criminal organization with operations spanning Thailand, Myanmar, and Laos.<\/p>

Indonesia maintains extremely harsh penalties for drug-related offenses. The country demonstrated its tough stance in 2015 when it executed two Australian citizens connected to the notorious Bali Nine smuggling ring for attempting to transport heroin from the popular tourist destination.<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

An Indonesian court handed down harsh sentences to two Thai men caught with nearly two tons of methamphetamine hidden in tea bags aboard a fishing vessel. The massive drug bust occurred in waters near Singapore and represents one of Indonesia’s largest drug seizures in recent years.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":32438,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[832],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-32439","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/news-1772799595328.jpg?fit=450%2C320&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pbtNqq-8rd","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":17767,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/state-police-arrest-two-following-methamphetamine-investigation\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":0},"title":"State Police Arrest Two Following Methamphetamine Investigation","author":"indiasturgis","date":"September 11, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Delaware State Police Troop 2 Drug Task Force (DTF) arrested 26-year-old Jamiyah Dennis of Boothwyn, Pennsylvania, and 19-year-old Kaliyah Barnes of Newark, Delaware, following a months-long multi-agency drug investigation in [\u2026] The post State Police Arrest Two Following Methamphetamine Investigation appeared first on Delaware State Police - State of Delaware.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Image of Jamiyah Dennis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dsp.delaware.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/118\/2025\/09\/Dennis-240x300.jpg?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":62879,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/18-arrested-in-major-drug-bust-at-los-angeles-park\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":1},"title":"18 Arrested in Major Drug Bust at Los Angeles Park","author":"Admin","date":"May 6, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Federal agents arrested 18 people Wednesday in a major drug operation targeting dealers selling fentanyl and methamphetamine around MacArthur Park in Los Angeles. The raids involved over 200 personnel and resulted in the seizure of 40 pounds of fentanyl from a single residence.","rel":"","context":"In "U.S. News"","block_context":{"text":"U.S. News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/us-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778114399292.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778114399292.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778114399292.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/news-1778114399292.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":47448,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/china-executes-french-national-after-20-years-on-death-row-for-drug-crimes\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":2},"title":"China Executes French National After 20 Years on Death Row for Drug Crimes","author":"Admin","date":"April 5, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Chinese authorities carried out the execution of a 62-year-old French citizen who spent two decades in prison following his conviction for drug trafficking. France criticized China for denying the defendant's legal team access to the final court proceedings.","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775388084230.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775388084230.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775388084230.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775388084230.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775388084230.png?fit=1200%2C675&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":50203,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/two-felton-residents-face-drug-charges-after-probation-search\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":3},"title":"Two Felton Residents Face Drug Charges After Probation Search","author":"Admin","date":"April 10, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Delaware State Police arrested two Felton residents on multiple felony drug charges during a probation compliance check. Officers discovered over 13 grams of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia during the April 6th search.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775837189851.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":16736,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/search-warrant-in-millsboro-leads-to-arrests-for-gun-and-drug-offenses\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":4},"title":"Search Warrant in Millsboro Leads to Arrests for Gun and Drug Offenses","author":"lewisbriggs","date":"July 18, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Delaware State Police have arrested 29-year-old Jessica Beebe, of Finksburg, Maryland, and 38-year-old Clyde Garrison of Millsboro, Delaware, for felony gun and drug charges following a search warrant at a [\u2026] The post Search Warrant in Millsboro Leads to Arrests for Gun and Drug Offenses appeared first on Delaware State\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"Jessica Beebe","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/dsp.delaware.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/118\/2025\/07\/Jessica-Beebe-231x300.png?resize=350%2C200&ssl=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":48795,"url":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/scottish-crime-boss-extradited-from-indonesia-to-face-drug-trafficking-charges\/","url_meta":{"origin":32439,"position":5},"title":"Scottish Crime Boss Extradited from Indonesia to Face Drug Trafficking Charges","author":"Admin","date":"April 8, 2026","format":false,"excerpt":"Indonesian authorities have extradited Steven Lyons, a 45-year-old Scottish man accused of leading an international crime syndicate, to Spain where he faces drug trafficking and money laundering charges. Lyons was arrested in Bali in March after being flagged through an Interpol Red Notice and is alleged to have controlled narcotics\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "World News"","block_context":{"text":"World News","link":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/category\/world-news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775623832077.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775623832077.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775623832077.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/news-1775623832077.jpg?fit=1000%2C666&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32439","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32439"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32439\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32438"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32439"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/tvdelmarva.com\/wp\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}