Narcotics suppression police arrested a Malaysian national wanted for drug trafficking as he was about to leave the country at Suvarnabhumi airport on Monday night.
The arrest was made by a team led by Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Charoenwong, deputy commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB).
A warrant for the arrest of Ko Chun Kia, the Malaysian, was issued after two Malaysian men were arrested with 52 kilogrammes of heroin and 41kg of crystal methamphetamine at a police checkpoint in Chumphon province on Dec 11, 2016. In an expanded action, police seized 87kg of crystal meth in Songkhla's Hat Yai district on Jan 26.
The suspects arrested on Dec 11 alleged that Ko Chun Kia was involved and was a leading member of the drug trafficking network.
He entered Thailand on April 3 and was subsequently arrested at departure Gate 10 on the 4th floor of the Suvarnabhumi airport terminal before he could board a flight out on Monday night.
Pol Maj Gen Pornchai said Ko Chun Kia went to several northern provinces during his visit. His drug network was believed to have delivered drugs from the North to storage sites in Bangkok, in preparation for being moved to the South and then Malaysia via the Sadao immigration checkpoint in Songkhla.
Pol Maj Gen Pornchai said the suspect's network mainly smuggled crystal methamphetamine and heroin, and actively transported the drugs through Thailand during festive holidays.
Ko Chun Kia stayed in Thailand for about 20 days per visit to direct and coordinate the smuggling, and did not carry drugs himself.
His network transported the drugs on trains and vehicles from the North and the Northeast through the southern province of Songkhla to Malaysia.
Police had not found any connection with the Xaysana cartel yet, and were questioning him about his accomplices in Thailand.
Police would ask the Criminal Court on Wednesday to prolong his detention, Pol Maj Gen Pornchai said.