CHUMPHON - One million methamphetamine pills were found secreted in several concealed compartments when police stopped and searched a pickup truck in Pathiu district on Tuesday.
The driver and his passenger were promptly arrested.
Sakda Akkharasaksri, 47, a contractor, and Chanawit Klinchan, 34, a grilled chicken seller, both from Sakon Nakhon, were taken before a media briefing in Chumphon province on Wednesday morning.
Police stopped their pickup, which has Bangkok licence plates, for search at Ban Pala checkpoint in tambon Khao Chairat, Pathiu district, about 10am on Tuesday, Pol Maj Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, said.
The search found packages containing one million methamphetamine pills, in total, hidden in many concealed compartments in the rear section of the pickup.
Mr Sakda allegedly confessed he had been hired for 150,000 baht a trip to smuggle drugs from northeastern Nong Khai province to an agent in Songkhla’s Hat Yai district. He said he had made four previous deliveries before being arrested.
Police were extending the investigation, hoping to arrest other members of the gang in Hat Yai. They believed they were on the trail of a major drug distributiuon network in the South.
Drug traffickers Sakda Akkharasaksri, 47, and Chanawit Klinchan, 34, and one million packaged speed pills found hidden in their vehicle, are shown at a media briefing in Chumphon province on Wednesday morning. (Photo by Amnart Thongdee)