Crime
Thai Customs Nab Russian with 6.5 Kilo’s of Cocaine in Koh Samui
Russian Sergei Lelekov sits in front of packages of cocaine found inside his luggage by customs officers in Koh Samui Monday. (Photo by Pattanapong Hirunard)
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KOH SAMUI -Kulis Sombatsiri, Director-General of the Customs Department at the Surat Thani island office, said in a news conference on Monday that Russian National, Sergei Lelekov, has been arrested at the customs office in Koh Samui for allegedly smuggling 6.5 kilograms of cocaine worth about 26 million baht into Thailand.
Kulis Sombatsiri, said in a news conference on Monday that Sunday’s arrest of Sergei Lelekov was made by customs and Office of the Narcotic Control Board, and Narcotic Suppression Bureau officers.
Mr Kulis said staff from Silk Air staff brought two suitcases belonging to Mr. Sergei Lelekov to the Ko Samui customs office for officials to check before delivering them Sergei Lelekovat at a Samui Diving Resort.
The officers scanned the bags and found a strange object attached to the upper side of one suitcase. The airline was told to tell the passenger to pick up his luggage at the customs office.
Lelekov arrived and confirmed ownership of the bags, which he said Silk Air that he lost on his trip from Singapore to the resort island on Nov 14.
Customs had the Russian open the suitcases, hidden under the lid were five packs of cocaine weighing altogether 6.5kg.
Mr. Lelekovat was charged with smuggling narcotics into the country with intent to sell.
