PHAYAO – Provincial Police Region 5 investigation team joined forces with Phayao police to arrest a 21-year-old man from Chiang Rai. He is accused of transporting a huge shipment of methamphetamine, with an estimated total of more than 5,000,000 pills.
Pol Maj Gen Pongsawat Chaibaan, Commander of Phayao Provincial Police, told a press briefing that the drugs were hidden in grass by the roadside in Dok Khamtai district. Police believe the group tried to avoid the Mae Ka checkpoint but got lost along the way.
According to Pol Maj Gen Pongsawat, on 17 November, the Narcotics Suppression Unit of the Phayao Provincial Police, together with the Region 5 investigation team, intercepted a major drug trafficking network. Officers seized 17 sacks of methamphetamine, around 5 million pills in total, weighing more than 533 kilos. They also seized a car and two mobile phones and arrested one suspect.
This operation was carried out by the Phayao Provincial Narcotics Suppression Unit under the command of Pol Maj Gen Pongsawat Chaibaan, Commander of Phayao Provincial Police, along with Pol Col Akkarapoom Chanayai, Pol Col Porntep Nongkan, Pol Col Jirapat Mungdee, Pol Col Apirak Nakrai, Pol Col Buncha Intha, Pol Col Ananchak Kanoknoppawat, and Pol Col Wisit Pluemjai, Superintendent of the Phayao Provincial Investigation Division. Together, they launched a major anti-drug campaign in the province.
Later, Pol Lt Col Supharerk Inthawong, Investigation Inspector of the Phayao Provincial Investigation Division, together with Pol Sub Lt Amphon Supawan, Pol Sub Lt Piyawat Mala, and several officers from the narcotics squad, joined the Region 5 surveillance team, who had already been following a suspicious target vehicle. They moved in and seized the huge haul of methamphetamine, which had been hidden in bushes beside the road near Ban Pa Sang in Dok Khamtai district.
Police also arrested one suspect at the scene, Mr Namchok, also known as Erawan, aged 21, a resident of Huai Chomphu subdistrict, Mueang Chiang Rai district, Chiang Rai province.
From initial questioning, officers believe this drug trafficking group tried to move the shipment along a back route to avoid the Mae Ka checkpoint on Phahonyothin Road. They appear to have lost their way, then decided to hide the drugs beside the road, before officers closed in and seized the stash.
The suspect has been charged with possession of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) with intent to sell without permission, and with distributing drugs in a way that harms national security and public safety.
The seized items include 17 sacks of methamphetamine, about 5 million pills, 2 mobile phones, and 1 car, making a total of 3 items of property taken from the offender.
Officers are now expanding the investigation to track down other members of the network and identify those behind the operation in the border areas. Police believe this was a major shipment, intended for distribution further into the country.
