KANCHANABURI: A combined task force arrested four people on Friday in connection with a drug trafficking ring and seized assets worth more than 31 million baht, the police said.
The arrests were made during a joint crackdown led by the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) in which 17 targets were raided almost simultaneously on Friday morning. The targets were allegedly linked with a drug gang known as the "Ra-u network".
Almost 100 police and civilian officials were involved in operations in two districts -- Tha Maka and Tha Muang.
The suspects were identified as Chaiwichit Nilthong, Kanyaphak Chiangkhong, Thitidech Wan-o-thong and Netnapa Krutwong who were wanted on arrest warrants for possession of drugs. Mr Thitidech was also charged with money laundering.
In total, police seized four guns and 15 rounds of ammunition during the operations. In addition, the authorities also confiscated five homes and land plots covering 13 rai, eight pick-up trucks, two ten-wheel trucks, two cars, two motorcycles, one six-wheel tow truck and a backhoe for examination.
The seized assets were estimated to be worth around 31.5 million baht.
The police said the arrests were made as the NSB was expanding its investigation into last year's arrest of a suspect identified as Weerachart Lamoonmon in Lao Khwan district. He was nabbed with 10,000 speed pills in his possession.
An investigation found that drug traffickers were smuggling narcotics through the province.