Police and anti-narcotics officials are hunting for suspects in a drug-trafficking cartel that includes a former police officer and a traffic policeman from Bangkok.
Police in Lampang province have sought warrants for the arrest of two more suspects in the network that allegedly includes Pol Snr Sgt Maj Manas Seupho, a traffic policeman of Pracha Chuen police station in Bangkok.
The two suspects were identified as Krisada Ketprathum and Praphai Tharua. They are among nine drug suspects allegedly part of a gang operated by Suchada "Pen" Thuaypa.
Pol Snr Sgt Maj Manas is the only suspect from the group in police custody. The traffic policeman drove his vehicle, which allegedly was carrying 1.2 million methamphetamine tablets and 5kg of crystal methamphetamine, through a checkpoint in Lampang on Monday. He turned himself in on Wednesday.
Pol Snr Sgt Maj Manas was quoted as saying that Ms Suchada's drug-trafficking gang is one of four groups operating under the authority of kingpin Chaiwat Pornsakulpaisal, who is believed to be hiding in Myanmar.
According to deputy Bangkok police chief Pol Maj Gen Thitirat Nonghanpitak, Ms Suchada had her husband Prawin Thuaypa, a former police sergeant major at the Pracha Chuen station, smuggle illicit drugs from the North. After her husband was thrown out of the police force, she recruited his close friend, Pol Snr Sgt Maj Manas to deliver the drugs. Pol Snr Sgt Maj Prawin and Ms Suchada are among eight suspects still at large.
The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has asked authorities in Myanmar to arrest Mr Chaiwat and raised the bounty for his capture from 1 to 2 million baht.