SONGKHLA: One of two men arrested for possession of methamphetamine worth about 20 million baht lamely explained to police that he needed the money because he planned to get married soon.
A combined team of police, soldiers and narcotics control officers burst into a room at a resort hotel near Hat Yai airport in tambon Khuan Lang on Wednesday, acting on information that illicit drugs were being stored there before being smuggled to the border.
The team, led by Pol Col Kittichai Sangkhathavorn, chief of Hat Yai police, arrested two men after 217,000 methamphetamine pills were found in the room. The drugs, worth about 20 million baht, were destined for the southern border. Two cars were also seized.
The suspects were identified as Sulaiman Morsu, 26, and Usaman Sameng, 29, both from Pattani.
During interrogation, the suspects confessed that a man identified as Rorsuelee Jehsuelee, alias Tik, had ordered them to go to the resort to collect the drugs. Mr Ruesuelee had waited outside the resort, and had fled on seeing the officers arrive.
Mr Sulaiman told police he had to taken the job because he was in dire need of money as he planned to marry his girlfriend soon.
He also said he was addicted to drugs. He had earlier been jailed for three years for a drug offence, and was released in 2015.