NAKHON PHANOM: Five smugglers were arrested and more than 5 million methamphetamine pills seized from their two cars in Sri Songkhram district of Nakhon Phanom late on Tuesday night.
Acting of a tip-off, a team comprising police, soldiers and security officials was assigned to watch for a shipment of drugs being smuggled into Thailand from Laos.
They spotted two targeted cars travelling from the border area in Ban Phaeng district late on Tuesday night.
They gave chase and stopped the two vehicles for a search in tambon Hat Phaeng of Sri Songkhram district.
A total of 25 fertiliser sacks were found inside the cars. The sacks contained more than 5 million speed pills, officials said.
Pol Lt Gen Charoenwit Sriwanit, commander of the Provincial Police Region 4, and senior police and military officers later briefed the media on the operation on Wednesday afternoon.
The five suspects were identified as Samian Tischan, 28, Ruengrit Sathee, 39, both from Tha Uthen in Nakhon Phanom; Thippakorn Sroijit, 21, Nara Chanbut, 19 and Kriangkrai Kanchanakul, 25, all from Sirinthorn district of Ubon Ratchathani.
Seized from them were five million speed pills and two pickup trucks – one with Bangkok licence plates and the other Surat Thani registration.
The suspects told police they had been hired for 20,000 baht each to smuggle the drugs to Sri Songkram district. They refused to name their employer, saying only that they were hired through a friend. The drugs were destined for the South.
Police estimated the value of the seized methamphetmine at 500 million baht.
The investigation is continuing.
Police on Wednesday announce the arrest of five drug smugglers and the seizure of 5 million speed pills in Nakhon Phanom. (Photo by Pattanapong Sripiachai)
Packs of methamphetamine pills found in fertiliser sacks inside the two vehicles used for drug smuggling. (Photo by Pattanachai Sripiachai)