Cops nab 6 in two major busts

Police have announced the arrest of suspects implicated in two large drug hauls with a combined value over 60 million baht in Samut Sakhon and Nakhon Phanom.

In Samut Sakhon, police raided a rented apartment in tambon Suan Luang of Krathum Baen district where they seized 178,134 methamphetamine pills in 89 bundles worth about 17 million baht as well as 23kg of crystal meth valued at 47 million baht.

The raid was led by Pol Maj Gen Surapong Chaijan, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 7.

The drugs were stashed in a large suitcase and a backpack found in the room.

Police arrested three people in connection with the seized narcotics. They are Namchai Sae Tia, 43, Chananya Boonlert, 20, and Panya Sae Sim, 43. The suspects have all been charged with possessing drugs with intent to sell.

Also confiscated were three Honda cars and a motorcycle.

The vehicles are thought to have been used to transport drugs.

Another theory is they were purchased using proceeds from selling illegal drugs, police said.

Police said Mr Namchai, who appeared to be intoxicated, confessed that he worked as a courier collecting drugs from a trader in Muang Thong Thani area of Nonthaburi for distribution to customers in the South.

He said the gang rented several apartments, including the one in Samut Sakhon, for use as a transit point. Mr Namchai said he made drug deliveries on four occasions from January after having been jobless for sometime.

He added he was paid 6,000 baht per bundle to deliver the meth tablets and 15,000 baht a kilo to transport the crystal meth.

Meanwhile, in Nakhon Phanom, provincial police announced the arrest of three people on a charge of trafficking 11,614 meth tablets in Tha Uthen district yesterday.

The suspects were identified only by their first names: Thanakit, 32, Songwut, 24, and Khamin, 21.

They told police the drugs were supplied by a businessman and were each paid 5,000-10,000 baht per delivery.