Raid, car chase yield guns, drugs

NARATHIWAT: A police search of a house in Rangae district of this southern border province yielded several firearms, gun parts, ammunition and narcotics, officers said yesterday.

The raid followed information uncovered during an intelligence operation.

Police searched the premises at Buke Muning in Moo 4 village of tambon Marubo Tok under the guidance of Kittipong Ampan, the Rangae district chief, Col Taweerat Banjathikul, commander of the 45th Ranger Regiment, and Pol Col Piyapat Thongphanlertkul, the Rangae police chief.

Peerapol Wannaris, 38, from Yingo district, was arrested.

Officers recovered 170 methamphetamine pills, one AK-102 rifle, four shotguns, one 11mm pistol, some M-16 parts and assorted ammunition.

The weapons’ serial numbers were being checked against their registration records as of press time last night.

Police also arrested a married couple and seized 131,300 meth pills following a car chase in Tha Chana district, they said yesterday.

Authorities set up a checkpoint on Highway 41 of Tha Chana district on Monday after being informed that a large quantity of illegal drugs would be transported through the area.

They signalled for a four-door Isuzu pickup to stop and be searched.

However the driver instead made a U-turn and sped off in the direction of Lamae district in adjoining Chumphon.

Police gave chase as the fleeing pickup veered off the highway into an oil palm plantation in Moo 3 village of tambon Suan Taeng, Lamae district.

They forced the pickup to stop and apprehended the driver, Chaowarin Kangla, 25, and his wife Angkhana Liewplod, 24.

A search of the vehicle found three bags containing 65 packages with a total of 131,300 methamphetamine pills concealed under the front seat.

The couple was charged with possessing narcotics with intent to sell. They were handed over to Lamae police station for legal proceedings.