KHON KAEN — 17 August 2026, Forensic officers inspected a construction site for a new staff residence at Khon Kaen Central Prison after workers uncovered 30 bags containing methamphetamine while excavating the ground.
Khon Kaen Central Prison Director Phairat Khaminthakul, Muang Khon Kaen Police Chief Pol. Col. Yotsawat Kaewsuebthannij, Muang Khon Kaen district officials and officers from the Regional Forensic Science Center 4 inspected the site, located south of the prison.
The drugs were discovered after a construction worker operating an excavator was clearing and levelling the land in preparation for construction. The machine uncovered 30 opaque plastic bags buried underground, 24 blue bags and six pink bags.
Authorities cordoned off the areas where the bags were initially found and where the excavator later dragged the bags containing the methamphetamine, around 50 metres from the original discovery point.
Investigators also questioned construction workers, the excavator operator and prison officials responsible for security and overseeing the construction project.
Pol. Col. Yotsawat said the drugs were found along the edge of the construction area, about 10 metres from the prison wall surrounding the inmates’ detention area.
The site had previously been overgrown and used for dumping rubbish. Workers had been clearing the rubbish and filling the area with soil when they uncovered the drugs.
“We need to determine whether the drugs are old or newly placed. We are questioning all relevant witnesses and checking CCTV footage,” Pol. Col. Yotsawat said.
The discovery site is opposite one of the prison’s CCTV cameras, but the camera is facing in a different direction.
Authorities are considering two main possibilities: that the drugs were deliberately left there by someone with malicious intent, or that they were buried in soil brought in to fill the site. Investigators will determine the cause through further examination.
Prison director Phairat said all possibilities must be investigated. The prison has coordinated with the contractor after handing over the site to a private company to build a four-storey staff accommodation building with 32 rooms.
The site was handed over in February, while construction under the contract began in July.
Following the discovery, authorities will completely seal off the construction area to prevent construction workers from coming into contact with inmates who are taken outside the prison for community service. Unauthorised people will also be barred from entering the area.
“We have patrol officers checking the area around the prison every hour, while officers remain stationed at the prison’s watchtowers around the clock,” Phairat said.
Security measures will now be tightened, including strict checks on everyone entering and leaving the prison, designated parking areas and waiting zones for visitors, as well as areas used as residences by prison officials and staff.
The prison also conducts thorough searches every week and randomly tests inmates’ urine for drugs. Phairat said all measures would be strengthened further to prevent similar incidents from happening again.
