Wat Sai gang drug smugglers nabbed

Wat Sai gang drug smugglers nabbed

Five drug trafficking and theft suspects allegedly belonging to the notorious Wat Sai gang based in Nakhon Pathom have been arrested in connection with a series of robberies this month.

The arrests of Theerapat Srikaew, Thitipat Sudjitjul, Thanachit (surname not given), Theerapong Jinsomboonpanich and Narathip Tingpeng were announced at Nakhon Pathom police station yesterday.

Pol Maj Gen Kamron Boonlert, commander of Nakhon Pathom police, said the suspects were responsible for at least two robberies on Dec 16 and Dec 20.

In the early hours of Dec 16, all of the suspects save Mr Narathip reportedly conspired to steal a motorcycle and a mobile phone belonging to Atthapol Rungnarai, 17, on Salaya Nakhon Chaisee Road in Nakhon Chaisi district of Nakhon Pathom.

The suspects threatened Mr Atthapol with a gun.

On Dec 20, the suspects allegedly stole a motorcycle, a mobile phone and 2,500 baht in cash from Manasnant Yokseng, 22, in tambon Tha Tamnuk in Nakhon Chaisi district.

Ms Manasnant was left by the roadside after the robbery.

After arresting the four suspects, police raided a rented room where they caught Mr Narathip.

Police seized from the room 700 methamphetamine pills weighing about 93 grammes and 1.5kg of dried marijuana as well as a number of weapons.

On Sunday, a total of 195kg of dried and compressed marijuana, with a street value of 3.9 million baht, were seized in a crackdown on drug smuggling from Laos into Thailand in the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom.

The cannabis was seized about 3am on Sunday.

Prior to the operation, an intelligence report was received that the drug was being smuggled into Thailand through the border village of Ban Na Nuea in Tha Uthen district, said Capt Apichart Kaewduangthian, chief of Nakhon Phanom's office of the Mekong Riverine Unit (MRU).

While a MRU team was conducting surveillance they heard the sound of a boat's engine being switched on.

The engine was turned off as it reached the middle of the river.

Looking through binoculars using night vision mode, the MRU team spotted two men paddling to the Thai shore before dropping five bags on the river bank, he said.

The team emerged from hiding and demanded to search the bags. Two men, believed to be Lao nationals, jumped back on the boat and sped away.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (1)