Cops seek 4 suspects in drugs case

Police will seek warrants for the arrests of four people in Lat Phrao district suspected of being involved in the distribution of powdered milk ketamine in Bangkok.

Pol Maj Gen Piya Tawichai, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau (MPB), yesterday said Chok Chai police are handling the matter after obtaining information the four were connected to the spread of the deadly drug cocktail called “k-nom pong”, or powdered milk ketamine, in Bangkok.

Ten deaths have been linked to the drug by the police, including that of Thanakorn Khumthinkaew, a 23-yearold who was found dead by his girlfriend in his condo in Bangkok.

Thanakorn worked at a local bar and was familiar with some of the other victims in the area.

He was believed to have visited a house party in On Nut in Suan Luang district, where it was thought he may have taken the drugs.

Results of the autopsies on all 10 victims have not yet been released.

Pol Maj Gen Thanit Jirananthawat, a physician at the Police General Hospital who conducted a test on two samples of seized powdered milk ketamine found near dead victims on Tuesday, revealed the tests detected the presence of ketamine, heroin, ecstasy and diazepam.

He said the combined effects of the various drugs, which harm human organs, can easily be fatal.

Pol Maj Gen Piya said police have questioned four people last seen with Thanakorn, adding they admitted to organising drug parties in Bangkok’s Charan Sanitwong and Sukhumvit areas, but denied consuming powdered milk ketamine.

Police have been ordered to identify those who have been involved, he said.

Thanakorn’s family yesterday picked up his body at Siriraj Hospital. His sibling, who asked not to be named, said he does not believe Thanakorn died of an overdose.