Huge heroin bust in Northeast

Huge heroin bust in Northeast

Police have seized heroin worth at least 100 million baht on the street, and arrested a four-member family in Nakhon Phanom province as the gang behind the drug.

The four suspects were identified as Marut Srihuahae, 30, Urai Pra-in, 32, Lertpong Thana, 28, and his father Jirapat Thana, 45, Pol Lt Gen Kawee Supanon, chief of Provincial Police Regions 4 told a press briefing on Tuesday. 

Acting on a tip-off, police intercepted a car carrying the first three suspects in Nakhon Phanom town in the Northeast on Monday’s night. A search turned up 140 bars of compressed heroin weighing 49kg hidden in the vehicle, the officer said. Officers also seized 160,000 baht in cash. 

Questioning of the suspects led police to arrest Mr Jirapat, who is Mrs Urai’s father and Mr Marut’s father-in-law. 

Mr Jirapat said the drug was smuggled from Tha Khaek town in Laos' Khammuan province, across the Mekong River from Nakhon Phanom, and was destined for Songkhla’s Hat Yai district. 

He said he was hired by an unidentified investor to transport the narcotics for one million baht - and had made the trip on four previous occasions.. He allegedly told police he kept half the fee for himself and split the rest with his son, daughter and his son-in-law.

The street value of the seized drugs could fetch 100 million baht once it arrived in Songkhla, Pol Lt Gen Kawee said.


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