A MASSIVE seizure of narcotic drugs worth 1.6 billion baht took place in Kanchanburi province last night with National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Chakthip Chaijinda flying there in a helicopter today (August 25) to question the suspect arrested while driving a truck with a hidden compartment where this huge amount of drugs was hidden, Naewna newspaper reported.
At a press conference at 3.15 p.m. today Pol. Gen. Chakthip together with several senior officers including Pol.Maj.Gen. Suwit Ketsri, deputy commander of the 1st Region, announced the seizure of 10 bags of heroin, each bag containing 20 packets of this drug weighing 385 grammes a packet, totaling 77 kilogrammes; 1,385 bags of crystal methamphetamine, or Ice, each weighing 1 kg for a total of 1,385 kgs; 500 kgs of Ketamine; a 12-wheel truck and a mobile phone.
Total value of the seized drugs is 1.6 billion baht.
Arrested was Mr. Sakchai Gerod, 59, who police noticed at around 5.30 p.m. yesterday was behaving suspiciously while driving a sedan to Sangkhla Buri district. They told a spy to follow him and were then informed that the suspect had switched to driving a truck.
Police continued to monitor the truck and at 11 p.m. last night stopped it for a search at Thong Pha Phum district of this province. They then found the huge amount of drugs hidden in a modified hatch and arrested the suspect.
Sakchai has confessed that the drugs were smuggled in from the border at the Three Pagodas Pass in Sangkhla Buri district. He had driven to a Japanese pond house where the drugs were loaded on to the truck and then drove on to the destination but was instead arrested.
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Top police officers and the huge amount of drugs they seized last night. Photos: Naewna
