Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) officers intercepted two illicit drug trafficking networks, seizing a staggering 5.4 million methamphetamine (meth) pills valued at over 150 million baht. The events unfolded yesterday, November 27, with the arrest of two suspects involved in separate but related drug cases.
Jiraphop Puridet, Police Lieutenant General, and Sopon Sarapat, Montree Teskhan, Charungsak Jamroon, and Phattawut Onchoay, announced the successful operations.
In the first case, officers from the Crime Suppression Division (CSD) arrested 46 year old Witthaya, with five million methamphetamine pills. The arrest took place along the outbound side of Rama II Road in Na Khok, Mueang Samut Sakhon district, Samut Sakhon.
This capture followed an incident on September 30, where two individuals were arrested with 13 million meth pills in Prachuap Khiri Khan province. Police officers discovered that the suspects operated as part of a well-organised group, with distinct roles ranging from those who orchestrate the operations to those responsible for transporting drugs from the north, and further to those managing warehouses and deliveries to the South.
“We learned that this network was planning another significant drug transport, assigning Witthaya the task of driving, substituting for the two earlier apprehended suspects.”
Police surveillance along critical routes led to Witthaya’s arrest, along with the sizeable drug haul.
During questioning, Witthaya confessed to transporting methamphetamine six times since October, earning between 150,000 and 200,000 baht per delivery, depending on the number of drugs moved to the southern network. He is now in custody, facing charges from the CSD.
In the second case, officers from the Highway Police Division apprehended 47 year old Apichart, with 400,000 meth pills. The arrest occurred along Highway 2022 in Sum Sao, Phon district, Udon Thani province, after a tip-off about a drug trafficking operation moving narcotics from Nong Khai province to inner northeastern Thailand and nearby areas.
Officers set up surveillance along potential routes and spotted Apichart driving a vehicle without a registration plate in Mueang Udon Thani district. His suspicious behaviour prompted police to signal him to stop, but he accelerated in an attempt to escape.
The pursuit ended in Ban Dung district when Apichart’s vehicle veered off the road and overturned, allowing officers to secure his arrest. Inside the vehicle, police discovered 400,000 meth pills. Apichart sustained injuries from the crash and was taken to Udon Thani Hospital for treatment before being transferred to Phen Police Station for legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.
What Other Media Are Saying
- Bangkok Post reports the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s significant seizure of over 380 million meth pills in fiscal 2024, highlighting increased efforts against drug networks and border-related trafficking operations. (read more)
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are some common questions asked about this news.
Why are methamphetamine trafficking networks so prevalent in Thailand?
Thailand’s location and extensive border network make it a strategic hub for drug trafficking, facilitating large-scale operations.
How do law enforcement agencies coordinate to dismantle drug networks?
Agencies use intelligence-led policing, surveillance, and strategic operations to track and apprehend suspects across the network.
What if the trafficking networks evolve new methods to evade detection?
Law enforcement may need to enhance technology, intelligence sharing, and international collaboration to stay ahead of traffickers.
What roles do individuals play within organized drug trafficking networks?
Individuals have distinct roles, from orchestrating operations to transporting drugs and managing logistics like warehouses and deliveries.
How significant is the impact of drug trafficking on local communities?
It can lead to increased crime rates, addiction problems, and strain on local resources, necessitating comprehensive community-focused interventions.
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