Anti-narcotics officials and marine police seized about two tonnes of crystal methamphetamine from a tug, moored the wharf of a steel factory in Bang Pakong district of Thailand’s eastern province of Chachoengsao, on Saturday.

Thirteen crew members, some of whom tried to escape by jumping into the Bang Pakong River, were arrested.

Acting on a tipoff, the police and anti-narcotics officials raided the vessel and uncovered 90 cardboard boxes containing the crystal meth, mixed with packages of dried fruit, in its hull.

All of the crew were have been taken to the Narcotic Suppression Bureau for questioning.

An anti-narcotics official said that the tug boat was due to leave the wharf for a rendezvous with a cargo vessel in international waters, where the drugs would have been transferred, destined for other countries.