Northern Thailand Truck Driver Arrested in Drug Sting Operation, 700,000 Methamphetamine Pills Seized

CHIANG MAI – A 38 year-old Thai man working for a large transport company and an accomplice have been arrested and 700,000 methamphetamine pills seized from a house in Chiang Mai.

Prawit Khuenkham, 38, of Chiang Mai’s Mae Taeng district, and Thanaphon Lertratsameethat, 33, of Lamphun’s Pa Sang district were charged with colluding in having illicit drugs in their possession with intent to sell.

Pol Maj Gen Montri Sambunyanont, acting chief of the Provincial Police Region 5,told the Bangkok Post that Mr Prawit, employed as a driver by a major transport firm, was caught in a police sting in San Sai district of Chiang Mai around 9pm on Oct 31, delivering 2000 meth pills to an undercover agent who had agreed to pay 600,000 baht.

He allegedly told police the drugs belonged to Mr Thanaphon, who had left the pills at his house in San Sai district pending delivery to person in Sing Buri province.

Mr Prawit said he had been paid to store the drugs for Mr Thanaphon. He also had some drugs for sale to small buyers. A search of the house found seven bags containing a total of 700,000 speed pills.

Mr Thanaphon was caught the following day, when he drove to Mr Prawit’s house to collect the drugs.

During interrogation, the duo allegedly confessed they had been hired by a woman identified only as “Jae Lek” to deliver drugs from Chiang Mai to a person in central Sing Buri province.

The drugs were to be hidden inside a six-wheel truck belonging to the transport company Mr Prawit worked for. Mr Prawit would then drive the truck to deliver the consignment, Pol Maj Gen Montri said.

By Cheewin Sattha