Police yesterday announced the seizure of millions of ya ba pills and more than two tonnes of marijuana, among other types of drugs, in three major anti-drug busts last week.
Pol Lt Gen Chinnapat Sarasin, head of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), told reporters during a press briefing yesterday that law enforcement agents confiscated nearly 1.5 million methamphetamine pills, 2.4 tonnes of cannabis and six kilogrammes of ketamine. Police also arrested about a dozen suspects.
In the first bust, Pol Lt Gen Chinnapat said police in Sakon Nakhon province arrested Peerapat Chaisunthorn, 24, and Chariya Niyompeng, 24.
About 400kg of marijuana and a Hyundai pickup van were also seized, he said.
In the second operation, police in Lampang province, arrested Songkod Sriharan, 40, Chaisri Kongauksorn, 63, and Ratchanok Boonta after they were pulled over on a road while making their way to Chiang Mai province.
Around 1.48 million ya ba pills were confiscated from the trio, Pol Lt Gen Chinnapat said.
He said the three were believed to be connected to the same gang of smugglers arrested in possession of 4 million methamphetamine pills in the north of the country early this year.
In the third operation, police in Udon Thani province nabbed six suspects and confiscated two tonnes of marijuana and six kilogrammes of ketamine from them.
They were identified as Mongkol Chonthanasilp, 31, Thanabodee Yakasem, 48, Bussayaporn Rangvigee, 36, Niroj Mingkwan, 35, Boonprom Laknongbu, 30, and Patracha Taweewan, 38.
Police also froze assets suspected to have come from the six's alleged drug dealings.