Chiang Rai News
Husband and Wife Arrested in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen District for Drug Smuggling
CHIANG RAI – A Husband and wife were arrested in Chiang Rai with 1.7 million methamphetamine pills and 12 kilograms of crystal meth or “ice”, hidden in a specially built compartment of a 6-wheel-truck.
A joint operation of military and police arrested Mr Rueangsak Phochara, 40, and Ms Anocha Maneethong, 41, husband and wife who were the residents of Lumphun.
The authorities found 1,748,000 meth pills and 12 kg of ice hidden in the 6-wheel-truck, bearing Lamphun registration plate.
They were arrested while driving through a checkpoint on Chiang Saen-Chiang Khong road in Chiang Rai’s Chiang Saen district.
The authorities closely searched the truck after noticing that the couple behaved suspiciously as they were asked to stop at the checkpoint.
It was found that the truck’s floor had been modified to have two tier, using another metal sheet to cover the the truck floor with space for 10 centimeters deep.
The authorities used a propane cutting torch to open the floor and found the illicit drugs inside.
Mr Rueangsak told the authorities that he was hired for Bt49,000 from a man called “Ai” to drive the truck that was parked on the road in Chiang Saen to Chiang Mai to load agricultural products before driving to Bangkok. He said he did not know the destination in Bangkok as there would be a call to tell the drop point location.
Mr Rueangsak said he has successfully delivered the product once before and this was his second attempt but this time he was arrested by the authorities