STRICT inspections at a checkpoint in Phuket led to the arrest of a Thai man who was travelling by bus after over 1kg of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) and 400 Ecstasy pills (MDMA) were found in his backpack, Amarin TV said this afternoon (Aug. 19).
A Tha Chatchai police station team mounted this operation under the instruction of Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, commander of Phuket provincial police, and Pol. Col. Khundech Na Nongkhai, this station’s superintendent, by joining the regular team at this checkpoint in thoroughly inspecting all vehicles passing through.
This led to the arrest of Mr. Pakindi (surname withheld), 26, from Kamphaeng Phet province, and seizure of 10 bags of crystal meth, weighing a total of 1,026.23 grammes including the bags, and 400 Ecstacy pills at around 6.45 p.m. yesterday.
The suspect was informed of the charges against him and his rights before being taken to Tha Chatchai police station for further legal proceedings.
Meanwhile a Thai navy’s Mekong river patrol unit seized a big lot of 10 million methamphetamine pills, worth around 350 million baht, hidden on a bank of this river in Chiang Rai province’s Chiang Saen district at 2 a.m. today with the suspects having abandoned several sacks of this drug and a vehicle and escaped under the cover of darkness.
RAMR Parach Rattanachaiyapan, the navy’s spokesperson, said the team spotted sacks containing suspicious goods and the abandoned vehicle and upon checking found that there were altogether 34 sacks containing approximately 10 million meth pills worth around 350 million baht based on an average 35 baht a pill.
The seized meth pills and the vehicle were then taken to the Chiang Rai Naval Border Patrol Command for detailed counting and forensic examination. Evidence will be collected, and relevant agencies contacted to expedite investigation and prosecute the perpetrators and their network according to the law.
CAPTIONS:
Top and Front Page: The drug suspect being arrested in Phuket.
Insert: The navy’s patrol unit seizing the big lot of meth pills. All photos – Amarin TV
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