Premium-grade marijuana plants, grown in an environmentally controlled enclosure from seeds imported from England, were seized by police during a crackdown on narcotics and weapons covering Bangkok and its surrounding provinces on Friday.
A combined force of emergency and rapid-deployment police launched a sweeping crackdown in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Samut Prakan targeting illegal weapons and drugs.
The 100-strong special task force swooped on 46 locations. One of them was a house in tambon Lak Hok in Muang district of Pathum Thani rented by a man identified only as Natthapol, 29, from Maha Sarakham.
Police searched the house and found an enclosure in which 11 marijuana plants, each about 1.5 metres tall, were grown in an environment where sunlight and air was regulated.
Patrol and Special Operation Division chief Surachet Hakpan said police confiscated about 100 marijuana leaves and an unspecified amount of marijuana seeds imported from England.
The officers seized the 11 plants and also found dried marijuana, drug-consuming paraphernalia, 124 meth pills, and four small bags of crystal meth.
Mr Natthapol and eight other suspects were charged with possessing the illicit drugs with the intent to sell.
Mr Natthapol allegedly admitted to growing the plants for personal consumption and for sale to customers who contacted him online.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet said police raided the house yesterday after securing a search warrant from the court.
According to police, some of the suspects said they were linked to another online drug dealing gang whose alleged members, Kanchai Prueksansuk and Sakaw Yanprai, were arrested earlier.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet, meanwhile, said the raids on 46 locations yesterday failed to find any illegal weapons.
He believed the authorities' raids in recent months have forced many firearms traders on Facebook to shut down their web pages.
However, some weapons sellers might also have disposed of their firearms.
Yesterday, Crime Suppression Division officers arrested Somchai Silathong, 32, for possessing 300 grammes of crystal meth and 2,000 meth pills in a parking lot of a building in Min Buri district, Bangkok. Police said Mr Somchai was caught and charged as he was delivering the drugs.
The suspect allegedly told police he received the drugs from a man identified as Thanakrit Srisaknok, a 26-year-old drug agent in Min Buri.
Police also searched a snooker club where a suspect said he had hidden more drugs in Klong Sam Wa district.
Investigators found two bags of crystal meth weighing about 200 grammes hidden in a cabinet.
Police said Mr Thanakrit, who was at the snooker club, fled on a getaway motorcycle shortly before police arrived.
Police seized from the club two motorcycles they suspected to be vehicles used for distributing the drugs.