Narcotics and money-laundering police have raided a shop owned by Akarakit Vorarojcharoendet, alias Benz Racing, husband of actress Patt Napapa Tantrakul, for suspected involvement in the drug network of Xaysana Keophimpha.
Mr Xaysana, an accused Lao drug kingpin, was arrested late last month on arrival at Suvarnabhumi airport from Phuket in a major drug suppression operation. Before his arrest he was an elusive suspect known to police only as "Mr X".
The raid on Thursday morning was part of an operation codenamed "Chaiya Sayop Pairee 60/2", targeting nine individual suspects and 40 spots throughout the country,15 of them in Bangkok.
One of the 15 targets in Bangkok was Mr Akarakit's shop, Area 51, at Thanadol Mansion in Soi Intamara 51.
The raid involved Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) police, with support from officials of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board and Anti-Money Laundering Office (Amlo).
NSB police entered the shop about 8am for a search. Mr Akarakit was not there, but his wife was in a room in their apartment in the building. Police asked her to contact Mr Akarakit and tell him to report to them for questioning. His family was also asked to pass on the request.
A security guard told police he saw Mr Akarakit leave the premises on a motorcycle with a group of friends about 1am. He had not yet returned.
Pol Maj Gen Pornchai Charoenwong, deputy NSB commissioner, said that according to information from an arrested suspect Mr Akarakit had in his possession some cars and motorcycles suspected to have been acquired through drug dealings by the drug network of Mr Xaysana.
He said Mr Akarakit was only a suspect as more evidence was required to confirm his involvement.
In a separate search of house No. 33/11 in Moo 6 of tambon Bang Khun Kong in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay district, police arrested Chaiwat Chusai and seized 20 kilogrammes of ketamine.
Mr Chaiwat allegedly said he had rented the house for about two weeks at 14,000 baht per month to store drugs before distribution. He said he had been hired to do this five times previously, for a total return of about 800,000 baht.
The man said during the day he worked as a driver for a hospital and as a drug courier at night.
Late on Thursday Pol Lt Gen Sommai Kongwisaisuk, chief of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said an arrested trafficking suspect told police that Mr Akarakit had spent Mr Xaysana's money on buying a car and if there was enough evidence to back the tip, Mr Akarakit could be charged with taking part in money laundering.
He said police had been planning for five years to bring down Mr Xaysana's operation.
On Thursday evening, narcotics suppression police took a Lamborghini car belonging to Mr Akarakit from an unidentified place to their bureau for examination. They said the car was taken from a location in Bangkok, and an informant had led them to it.
Meanwhile, Anucha Tantakul, an elder brother of actress Patt Napapa and Mr Akarakit's brother-in-law, said Mr Akarakit would meet narcotics suppression police at 3pm on Friday.
Mr Anucha said Mr Akarakit had traded at least 20 cars and the Lamborghini that had been sent somewhere for repair had been acquired legally from a friend.
A Lamborghini belonging to Mr Akarakit is taken to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok on Thursday evening. (Narcotics Suppression Bureau photo)
Video by Pattarapong Chatpattarasill