The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) has confiscated more than 1.4 million speed pills and other drugs valued at over 167 million baht in its latest campaign against illicit drugs.
Deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Chalermkiat Srivorakan, also said at a press conference yesterday that seven people -- including one suspect with ties to international drug trafficking rings active in Laos, Thailand and Malaysia -- have been arrested across the country in the NSB's sweep.
Ibrahim Jaeha, 29, and Arthit Sasom, 35, were apprehended at a checkpoint in Narathiwat's Bacho district while they were delivering methamphetamine pills, also known as speed or ya ba, from Bangkok to the deep South -- a known hot-spot for drug traffickers trying to make it across the border.
Seized from their possession were 383,800 speed pills along with their pickup truck and four mobile phones.
The suspects are allegedly linked to an international drug network operated by Usman Salaeamaeng, who allegedly trafficked drug from Laos to Malaysia via Thailand. Mr Usman is wanted for drug trafficking and is said to have fled overseas.
Meanwhile, Glenn Chivasello Ooko from Kenya and Osita Joseph Ukpa from Nigeria were arrested after police found 65 blocks of cocaine weighing 1.2 kilogrammes.
Separately, authorities apprehended Chinese national Changui Cho at a hotel in Bangkok's Huai Khwang district, after postal officers found 28kg of ketamine hidden in a package bound for New York, in the United States.
Police also found another 10kg of ketamine hidden in teabags in Mr Changui's hotel room.
Also, two Thai women -- identified as Ornapa Dechsunthornpinyo and Natthalada Chulasuwan -- were arrested after their names appeared on an inbound parcel that turned out to contain 5,000 ecstasty pills hidden among clothes.
The parcel was sent from France through an international shipping company.
NSB said the drugs seized in the crackdown has a total street value of over 167 million baht.