The party's over
The seizure of almost $1 billion worth of the hallucinogenic party drug
ketamine in Thailand promised to be a major party-pooper. Initial field testing confirmed the find.
On 12 November, Thailand seized nearly 11.5 tonnes of white powder from a local warehouse after a tip-off from Taiwan. "The drugs are the largest amount ever seized in Thailand, with [an] estimated value [of] 28.7bn baht ($950m; £710m) based on retail price," Wichai Chaimongkhol, ONCB secretary-general, told reporters after the bust, according to a report by The Nation.
More rigorous testing, back in the ONCB laboratory, however, showed the powder to be trisodium phosphate. Trisodium phosphate is commonly used as a cleaning agent, stain remover, degreaser, and food additive.
Mr Somsak later admitted that it "might have been premature to hold a press conference" at such an early stage, said the [Bangkok] Post.
(LMAO)
The ONCB will now, presumably, release the drug
. It may not get them high, but at least those party animals will have clean teeth.