Bangkok: The Ministry of Transport has instructed the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT) to revamp its baggage inspection protocols for airline crew members after an incident involving a Thai Airways crew member arrested in Australia on drug charges. The directive aims to prevent similar occurrences while balancing safety and passenger service.

According to Thai News Agency, Mr. Patarapong Pataraprasit, Deputy Minister of Transport, has been tasked by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Transport, Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, to address the arrest of the Thai airline crew member by Australian authorities, who found narcotics concealed in their luggage. The CAAT has been requested to collaborate with relevant agencies to enhance preventive measures.

The crew member, on duty on a flight from Thailand to Melbourne on June 25th, was intercepted by customs officials who discovered multiple bags containing hidden narcotics. The individual is now detained and awaiting trial in an Australian court.

Mr. Phatarapong emphasized that all crew members are subject to security checks similar to regular passengers, despite having expedited lanes at Thai airports. These checks adhere to international standards, focusing on detecting dangerous objects, weapons, or explosives that could compromise aircraft safety.

Airport security personnel are trained to use standard equipment, and the CAAT regularly evaluates these systems. For smuggling concerns, such as narcotics, airports coordinate with customs and drug enforcement agencies for further inspections if necessary. This system has successfully intercepted illegal activities in the past.

In the recent case, the crew member passed initial inspections at the departure airport. However, the drugs were skillfully concealed, possibly evading detection. Australian authorities conducted targeted searches at the destination, leading to the discovery of the contraband.

Mr. Phatarapong concluded by outlining discussions with Air Chief Marshal Manat Chawanaprayoon, Director of the CAAT, to convene airlines, the Airports of Thailand (AOT), customs, and narcotics agencies. The goal is to implement stricter controls on crew baggage, enhance inter-agency information exchange, and improve intelligence coordination to detect risks effectively. These measures aim to maintain service standards while minimizing disruptions for passengers.