A seven-member patrol from the 2nd Northern Border Drug Suppression Centre arrested three tribesmen and seized more than 100,000 methamphetamine pills in Chiang Rai's Mae Fa Luang district early Tuesday morning.
The troops were patrolling a mountainous area along the border with Myanmar, acting on information that a large quantity of methamphetamine pills would be delivered from Mae Fa Luang to Mae Chan district in Chiang Rai province.
Shortly after midnight the patrol spotted two men riding on a motorcycle near Japusi village in Therd Thai sub-district of Mae Fa Luang district and stopped them for a search.
A search of the two suspects, an 18-year-old boy and Jakha Lahuma, 54, revealed 101,200 speed pills. The two said they were on their way to hand over the drugs to Wichai Lahuna, 29, who would be waiting for them at Japhue village in Patueng sub-district of Mae Chan district.
Mr Wichai was later arrested.
In Samut Prakan province, police arrested Kitti Boonme, 33, and Suwit Thongmanit, 32, at a house in Pentgo Ville housing estate about 7pm on Monday. Police also seized 190,000 speed pills and 2.13 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice".
The suspects said an inmate named Ta at the Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi province paid each of them 50,000 baht a month to deliver illicit drugs and sent his orders via phone and the Line instant messaging application.
A man who was to take delivery of the drugs managed to escape.