More than half a million methamphetamine pills and 6 kilogrammes of crystal meth have been seized and another six dealers arrested in a police swoop on a major drug ring based in the North.
The operation followed the earlier arrest of five members of the same gang.
Justice Minister Paiboon Koomchaya said the success followed an exchange of information between Myanmar and Thailand under the Safe Mekong operation.
Six dealers working for drug kingpin Weera Mueanjada were arrested in the latest raids. Patcharamate Thanaputranond, 35, Watcharin Boon-orn, 27, Pongsakorn Maikaew, 34, Noppadol Pinyamit, 27, Kittikhun Pisitpattana, 36 and Natchapong Pisitpipattana were apprehended in Chiang Mai’s Muang district and in Pathum Thani’s Lam Luk Ka district with a total of 550,000 yaba pills and six kgs of ya ice. Gang boss Weera remains at large.
Narong Rattananukul, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, said this ring worked through several gangs to distribute the drugs, with a clear division of work between providers, transporters, distributors and those who control the finance.
Five members of this ring were arrested on Sept 24 with 2.3 million yaba pills, 42kgs of crystal meth (ya ice) and 36kgs of heroin in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai.
This ring regularly couriered drugs from the North to sell in Bangkok and vicinity, Mr Narong said. He alleged Mr Kittikhun had sourced and smuggled the drugs from the border to a storage place in Chiang Mai. He packed and then sent the drugs via general transport companies to Greater Bangkok.
Mr Patcharamate's job was, allegedly, to pick up the drugs and deliver them to Mr Watcharin for distribution to retail buyers.
The authorities have seized assets and money from these men.