Three major drug suspects arrested, B100m in assets seized

Three major drug suspects arrested, B100m in assets seized

A police press conference is held following the arrest of three major drug suspects and the seizure of assets, including luxury houses, cars and other valuables, during raids on six locations in Bangkok early Tuesday. (Capture from police TV clip)
A police press conference is held following the arrest of three major drug suspects and the seizure of assets, including luxury houses, cars and other valuables, during raids on six locations in Bangkok early Tuesday. (Capture from police TV clip)

Police arrested three alleged members of a major drug trafficking gang and seized assets -- including luxury houses and cars -- worth about 100 million baht during raids on six locations in Bangkok early Tuesday.

A combined team of police and officials from several agencies raided a house in Bang Kapi district at around 5am on Tuesday, where they arrested Piyachat Witchadilok, 42, and her husband Krittipong Uthensut, 30.

The couple were wanted on arrest warrants issued by the Criminal Court for colluding in the illicit drug trade.

The officers later raided a luxury house at Bangkok Boulevard Ratchada-Ram Intra housing estate, Thai media reported, where they arrested house owner Amporn Heemman, 39, a boyfriend of Ms Piyachat.

The team also raided four other locations belonging to the suspects and seized assets there.

The confiscated assets included four luxury houses, two condominium units, a Toyota Alphard, a new Porsche, a Mercedes Benz, four Harley motorcycles, three other motorcycles, brand-name bags and other valuables with a combined worth of about 100 million baht.

Pol Gen Chalermkiart Srivorakhan, deputy national police chief, and senior police and agency officials held a media conference on the arrest of the three major drug suspects on Tuesday.

Pol Lt Col Narit Sorndit, deputy investigation chief at Muang police station in Chiang Mai province, said the raids were conducted after they obtained clear evidence implicating the three suspects in previous major drug cases in 2014 and 2015. 

Ms Piyachat was responsible for ordering illicit drugs from the North to sell in Bangkok, the Central and the Eastern regions, he said. She had transferred the proceeds of drug sales to drug in the North and neighbouring countries.

Money trails showed that Ms Piyachat was linked to Mint Teng-ae, a Myanmar suspect arrested in 2017 and later given the death sentence.  

The suspect also had a link with Mon Phet-aroon, a Lao businesswoman arrested in 2017 for opening bank accounts to transfer money from drug suspects in Thailand to drug gangs in Myanmar.

Ms Piyachart had no permanent job, but held more than 100 million baht in accounts she controlled. Most of her assets were in Mr Kittipong's name, Pl Lt Col Narit said.

During the interrogation, Mr Kittipong insisted he was not involved in illicit drugs. He denied knowing that his wife was involved in the drug trade.

He claimed he had bought houses and luxury cars on monthly instalments while running a restaurant, which was now closed.

(Video from Facebook/@policetv.tv)

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