Cops nab 14, seize 9,000 meth pills

Cops nab 14, seize 9,000 meth pills

A total of 14 suspects have been detained in drug suppression operations carried out in Rayong and Surin on Saturday and yesterday, police said.

Five members of a drug gang and packages of drugs containing some 40,000 speed pills are arranged for a police press conference at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s headquarters yesterday. Apichit Jinakul

In Rayong, police yesterday detained Saharat Liheng, 30, Thanawin Suwanwong, 22, Natthakan Chaosuan, 22, and seized about 6,000 methamphetamine tablets. The police say they first arrested Mr Saharat, who was carrying some drugs, and later detained Mr Thanawin and Ms Natthakan, his girlfriend.

Pol Maj Gen Rungrit Sunsap, acting Rayong provincial police chief, said Mr Thanawin and Ms Natthakan were arrested after police searched their house and found about 6,000 methamphetamine tablets.

Mr Saharat had told police Mr Thanawin had supplied the illicit drugs to him. Mr Thanawin worked in the drugs trade on behalf of an inmate serving time in Rayong central prison. The inmate was known only by his first name Isara, and his nickname Bung.

According to Mr Thanawin, Isara told him in a telephone conversation to retrieve five packages containing 10,000 methamphetamine tablets plus 50 grammes of crystal methamphetamine.

The drugs had been dropped near Nong Bon Khet intersection in Nikhom Phatthana district by someone else.

Mr Thanawin said Isara gave him 3,000 baht for handling each drug package. Isara wanted him to drop the drugs at several locations, which he did, but he still had 6,000 drug tablets with him at the time of his arrest.

He had received his payment through his girlfriend's bank account and the money was transferred to the account by a woman identified only as Zo, he said.

In Surin, a combined force of police, soldiers, and local administration officials detained 11 suspects in a series of crackdowns carried out on Saturday and yesterday.

The operations followed the recent arrest of six suspects who confessed to taking methamphetamine.

Watcharaphong Sithong, 25, and Nin Homdokphut, 21, were arrested on Saturday with 42 and 73 tablets respectively.

Another raid was conducted later yesterday at a rented house in Muang district where Wirayuth Miphan, 19, Yutthaphum Lapkosa, 25, Siwat Buntam, 26, Chirasak Khemthong, 18, and Supphachai Yuanchai, 29, were detained with 3,487 methamphetamine tablets and drug paraphernalia.

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