A 65-year-old American woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport after attempting to smuggle 4.3kg of crystal methamphetamine, according to multiple reports.
The woman, identified as Melba Geraldine Sharp from California, was about to board Scoot Airways flight TR653 to South Korea via Singapore on Sunday (Feb 23), The Phuket News reported.
Sharp’s drug stash, valued at 1.29 million baht (approximately S$51,500), was discovered when she was flagged during a routine risk assessment of passenger profiles. The Nation reported that officers had received a tip-off about possible drug smuggling, and an X-ray screening of Sharp’s luggage revealed suspicious objects inside.
Upon further inspection, authorities found four sets of unusually heavy bed sheets in her suitcase. After unwrapping the sheets, police discovered rectangular packages wrapped in multiple layers of brown tape. A chemical test confirmed that the packages contained methamphetamine, totaling 4.3kg.
Sharp was arrested and charged with attempting to smuggle Category 1 narcotics and illegal possession of methamphetamine under Thailand’s Narcotics Code. She now faces further legal proceedings, The Phuket News reported.
In Singapore, trafficking or importing/exporting over 250g of methamphetamine can result in the death penalty under the Misuse of Drugs Act.
