Cops arrest five in meth, pot seizure
More than a half million methamphetamine pills, 11 kilogrammes of crystal meth, known locally as “ya ice”, and 458kg of marijuana have been seized in two criminal cases in the past week, according to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB).
The drugs and valuables seized by the authorities in the two cases are worth more than 76 million baht.
In the first case, a combined team of NSB officers, local police and local leaders worked to locate and arrest five suspects who are part of a major drug trading network in the North last week.
The five suspects were identified as Kwanmuang Srisook, 54, Jessadaporn Santatipong, 26, Sirichet Prueksachartcharoen, 29, Watcharapon Kiewnoi, 24, and Korakot Santatipong, 25. Police seized a total of 504,000 meth pills and 11kg of ice, and impounded five cars including a Porsche.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Chalermkiat Sriworakan said the authorities moved in to arrest the five suspects after they were tipped off by informants that the drugs were being couriered by a major drug ring based in the North.
Mr Jessadaporn and Mr Korakot allegedly ordered the drugs to be delivered from Chiang Rai to a transit point at a house in Bang Sao Thong district of Samut Prakan, where the the drugs would then be sent to customers. The deputy police chief said it took police and related authorities more than four months to track down the suspects. He said the gang transported the drugs in luxury cars, believing the police might not be inclined to search expensive cars.
The police arrested Mr Kwanmuang at the Bang Khunthian toll gate on the Kanchanaphisek expressway as he was delivering 59 bundles containing 118,000 meth pills.
Another 386,000 meth pills and more ice were later found at a housing estate in Bang Sao Thong district. All suspects except Mr Kwanmuang were nabbed in Chon Buri.
In the second case, three people were caught after the car they were driving crashed during a high-speed police chase in Udon Thani on Oct 2, as they were on their way to deliver 458kg of dried marijuana to their customers in Central Plains and eastern provinces.