Drug suspect’s assets seized

Authorities yesterday seized for investigation assets of a major drug suspect from Nakhon Phanom worth several million baht after he and three accomplices were arrested with 400,000 speed pills in their possession.

Armed with a search warrant, police, soldiers and officials from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board’s regional office 4 searched the house of Thanachot Khiewkha in Tha Uthen district of Nakhon Phanom for evidence.

Mr Thanachot, 56, and three other men were arrested in Chumphon on April 9 while taking 400,000 speed pills to the South. The drugs were found hidden inside three car tyres.

Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn Yankittikun, chief of Nakhon Phanom police, said Mr Thanachot was believed to have links with a transnational drug smuggling network.

After the search, the officials seized Mr Thanachot’s house and other assets — including a petrol station, a passenger bus, a car and his bank accounts — for examination, Pol Maj Gen Suwichan said.

He said four other locations were also searched on suspicions of being part of his network in Tha Uthen district.

According to Pol Maj Gen Suwicharn, authorities are intensifying the crackdown on narcotics after five million methamphetamine pills were confiscated in this northeastern province over the past two months.

Criminal records showed Mr Thanachot was arrested with 200kg of marijuana in 2005 and sentenced to seven years in jail, but spent only one year behind bars before being released.

He was later arrested for alleged collusion in drug trafficking in Mukdahan, but was cleared by a court.