An investigation has found two senior police officers were not involved in the smuggling attempt of 1.5 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine in Tak that was foiled on Oct 18, 2019, national police chief Suwat Jangyodsuk said yesterday.
Two suspects were arrested and the drugs seized at a checkpoint in Tak province. During police questioning, the suspects implicated a police lieutenant general and a police colonel, Pol Gen Suwat told a press briefing.
However, a probe found no evidence pointing to the police officers being involved, Pol Gen Suwat said.
The two arrested suspects alleged that the two police officers met them at the Myawaddy Complex in Myanmar, but did not explain why the officers were there, Pol Gen Suwat said, adding it is not known why the two suspects implicated the two police officers.
Pol Gen Suwat also said investigators are still continuing their inquiries into the case and if there is evidence against anyone else, including the officers, they will face legal action.
Pol Gen Suwat also said a leaked document about the officers obtained by the media was from a police investigation report. The document was used by people who wanted to undermine the reputation and dignity of the police to accuse the officers of being involved in narcotics, which was not true, Pol Gen Suwat said.
He was referring to a memo signed on Feb 10 ordering an investigation into the allegation against the pair.
Deputy national police chief Pol Gen Manu Mekmok in his capacity as chief of the National Command Centre for Combating Drugs, also backed the two accused officers.
He said that after the arrest of the two suspects, 10 more suspects were apprehended, and police were expanding the investigation to arrest other suspects.