Thai police arrest 20th Iranian in drug smuggling case at Bangkok airport this year

Thai police say a man arrested while trying to move crystal methamphetamine through Bangkok's international airport is at least the 20th Iranian caught smuggling drugs this year.
Police Col. Pornchai Charoenwong of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau said Monday the seizure of 6.8 kilograms (15 pounds) of the drug was the largest haul at the airport this year.
He said 27-year-old Mehdi Nikzad admitted after his Saturday arrest at Suvarnabhumi Airport on arrival from Abu Dhabi that he was hired by fellow Iranians to smuggle the drug to Malaysia.
Pornchai said the seized drugs were valued at 20 million baht ($655,000).
Drug smuggling carries a possible death sentence in Thailand, but the penalty is infrequently applied.