COPS BUST KRATOM SMUGGLERS

RATCHABURI: Highway police yesterday arrested a lorry driver for allegedly smuggling 300 kilogrammes of kratom plants in Pak Tho district.

The arrest came after Pol Maj Arat Paithong, inspector of Highway Police station 2 of the Highway police Division, was alerted about a six-wheel lorry loaded with illegal items heading from Chumphon to Samut Sakhon.

The Wang Manao highway police were deployed to intercept the lorry on the Rama II Road in Pak Tho district.

The police stopped the vehicle for a search and found empty foam boxes were placed around six large ice tanks containing fresh kratom plants packed in 70 fertiliser sacks. The plants weighed a total of 350kg priced around 300 baht/kg.

Sarawut Thongpasee, the 40-year-old driver of the lorry, said he was hired to deliver the kratom to customers.

The police later took Mr Sarawut to Pak Tho provincial police office where he was charged with having kratom in his possession with the intent to distribute. Police are tracking down the source of the kratom.