LOP BURI: A man believed to be a key member of a major drug ring operating in the central region has been arrested and 1.6 million methamphetamine pills seized at a house in Muang district.
Manas Inthayu, 47, a Lop Buri resident, was apprehended at his house in Talung village on Sunday.
The suspect and the seized drugs were shown to the media at Provincial Police Region 1, which oversees the central provinces, on Tuesday.
Deputy national police chief Chalermkiet Sriworakan said police were tipped off by an informant that a large amount of methamphetamine was stored inside the house.
A joint force of regional police and Narcotics Suppression Bureau officers raided the residence, where they found 1,063,500 methamphetamine pills and arrested Mr Manas. His son, Naritphong Inthayu, managed to escape.
The drugs were believed to belong to a man named Krit Wongpan, aka Krit Thahin, 31, suspected to be a key player in drug dealings in the central provinces.
Police raided Mr Krit’s rented room in tambon Pho Kao Ton, Muang district, on Monday.
Mr Krit eluded them, but another 576,500 meth pills were found in his room, bringing the total seized to 1,640,000 tablets.
Pol Col Chalermkiet said investigators learned the drugs were purchased from a Wa ethnic minority gang in the North for delivering to dealers across the central region.
Arrest warrants would be sought for five other members of the drugs network, Pol Col Chalermkiet said.