Thai Police Announce Three Busts that Net Bt800 Million ($25 Million Dollars) in Drugs

CHIANG RAI – Thai police on Thursday announced they have seized drugs with an estimated value of 800 million baht (25 million U.S. dollars) in the recent three drug busts.

A total of 8 million methamphetamine pills, 2,070 grams of crystal meth and 1,546 grams of cocaine were seized in the haul. Four suspects were arrested and another suspect was killed during the bust, police told at a press conference.

In the first case, three hill tribe men were arrested and charged with possessing illicit drugs for sale, one of which was killed in a gunfight with police in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai Province.

Police found 8 million speed pills, three pick-up trucks and a pistol during the bust on March 16 in Chiang Rai province, said Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s third regional commander Pol Maj General Watchara Thipmongkol.

 

In the second case, a Thai man, 28, was arrested on Tuesday after more than 2,000 grams of “ice” were found in his luggage in the same airport. After his arrest, police tracked down a batch of drugs smuggled to Thailand via Suvarnabhumi Airport.

His arrests followed a tip-off a day earlier about a batch of drugs to be smuggled out of the country via the airport.

Anucha was apprehended after officers found the “ice” hidden in his luggage. He was charged with drug possession with intent to sell and attempt to smuggle drugs out of the country.

In the last case, police and customs officials this week arrested 47-year-old Bamba Adama, from Ivory Coast, who allegedly smuggled 1,546 grams of cocaine in his stomach at the Suvarnabhumi Airport.