JUSTICE Minister Somsak Thepsutin announced the seizure of 11.5 tonnes of ketamine worth over 30 billion baht at a warehouse in Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province with this being the largest ever haul of this drug in Thailand, Amarin TV reported.
Acting on information from other countries the Office of the Narcotics Control Board officers managed to seize this huge amount of ketamine just as it was about to be shipped overseas.
Somsak revealed that statistics show the authorities are able to seize around 700 kilogrammes of ketamine each year but this time it is as much as 11,500 kgs.
The cost of production of this drug is around 90,000 baht per kg. If purchased wholesale the price is 450,000 baht a kg and it retails at 2,500 baht a gramme. This adds up the value of the seized drug to 38.75 billion baht.
Somsak thanked the cooperation between the military, police, customs and airport officials as well as various other departments for succeeding in seizing this huge amount of ketamine, which if it had gone overseas would have caused a lot of damage.
The minister added that officials are going to continue with their crackdown and will be expanding investigation to smash this drug network.
CAPTION:
Justice Minister Somsak inspecting the ketamine that was seized, above, and standing in a row with senior police and military officers, below. Photos: Amarin TV
