Cop claim huge haul, many arrests
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday hailed a series of anti-drug operations carried out late last week as a success.
The anti-narcotics push netted drugs with a combined street value of more than 3 billion baht and resulted in the arrests of suspects allegedly linked to Lao drug kinping Xaysana Keopimpha.
Mr Xaysana was detained last month and his arrest triggered a series of raids and arrests of people suspected of involvement with his transnational drug network.
Chatri Saehoe, 24, a resident of Chiang Rai province, was arrested on Friday on Highway No.1048 (Thoen-Thung Saliam) with 5.8 million methamphetamine tablets and 20 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine.
Prior to Mr Chatri’s arrest, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) was tipped off that a group of Mhong drug traffickers would smuggle drugs from Chiang Rai to other provinces, said Pol Maj Gen Thanai Apichatseni, head of the NSB’s division on drug trafficking suppression.
The suspect refused to stop at a police checkpoint in Lampang and sped away in his pickup truck, sparking a chase which ended up with police shooting the vehicle’s tyres, said Pol Maj Gen Thanai.
Last Thursday Bangkok police arrested a 17-year-old male youth from Samut Prakan, Nathaphong Thongsuk, 21, from Roi Et, and Thiwakon Panchandi, 23, from Samut Prakan, and seized 279,760 methamphetamine pills, 16.55kg of crystal methamphetamine and ketamine weighing 3.2kg.
The teen was delivering some of the drugs, which he had received from Mr Natthaphong, to Mr Thiwakon near Phuttha Bucha Road, said Pol Maj Gen Wutthiphong Phetkamnoet, chief of the NSB’s Division 3.
More drugs were seized during a search of Mr Natthaphong’s house.
Pol Maj Gen Wutthiphong said the arrests were made following the capture of Natthaphol “Boy” Nakkham, who is believed to be linked to the Xaysana drug network. Police are looking to arrest more people, he said.
On Saturday, three suspects were detained in Klong Sam Wa district of Bangkok along with 80kg of crystal methamphetamine and 7.2kg of heroin.
Those held were identified as Pramot Maibuakhiaw, 25, Somchai Thongpradit, 52, and Saranya Muangchan, 23.
National police chief Chakthip Chaijinda said about 70% of all the seized drugs were destined for a neighbouring country. They would have fetched up to 3 billion baht had they reached their destination.
The arrests were carried out by police the NSB and soldiers as part of the government’s anti-narcotics drive, he said.