The drugs were hidden in a lorry transporting pineapples and watermelons.

Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) head Lt Gen Sommai Kongvisaisuk said the Thai-registered lorry was stopped at one of the security checkpoints in Chumphon, southern Thailand, about 1.30am (local time) today.

“Upon checking the lorry, the officers were surprised to discover 700kg of ‘ice’ hidden among hundreds of pineapples and watermelons stuffed inside the lorry,” he told Bernama here today, adding that the lorry driver has been detained for further questioning by the police.

He said, the drugs originated from northern Thailand and were heading to Malaysia where it probably would be exported to other destinations, where the “ice” could fetch a higher price.

Sommai did not provide any more details about the early morning drugs bust but the authorities believed the 700kg “ice” seizure in Chumphon stood out as among their biggest achievements this year.

Transporting drugs in a lorry transporting fruits or agriculture produce has become one of the favoured tactics used by the drug syndicates of late.

In January this year, Thai police intercepted a lorry in Nakhon Ratchasima in northeast Thailand and discovered 300kg of “ice” hidden among hundreds of watermelons inside the southern Thailand-bound vehicle.

The NSB also believed the drugs would be smuggled across the border into Malaysia after reaching southern Thailand.

In June last year, Thai authorities stopped a lorry transporting hundreds of durian in Hatyai and discovered 306kg of cannabis (ganja) hidden among the fruits which they believed were bound for Malaysia.