Thai police crack open replica Easter Island statue and find crystal meth shipment to Taiwan

Police in Thailand have found 200kg (440lbs) of crystal methamphetamine hidden inside one of six replica Easter Island statues that was allegedly being sent to Taiwan. The illegal drugs shipment was turned up during a June 8, 2022, raid in the port city of Laem Chabang near Bangkok. Officers became suspicious when they learned that the statue did not appear at a planned exhibit after it arrived from Taiwan, and they intercepted the item while it was awaiting shipment back to the island. Arrest warrants are pending for suspects wanted in connection to the crystal meth smuggling case.