Police in Thailand Seize 1.14 Tonnes of Crystal Meth

In three separate smuggling cases in the South, North, and Central regions of Thailand, police seized more than 1.14 tonnes of crystal meth, also known as ya ice.

The first case occurred in the South, when Narcotics Suppression Division 4 and the Narcotics Intelligence Division apprehended a 27-year-old man only identified as Arkhom, as well as two women, Maam, 32, and Chayada, 35.

According to sources, three pickup trucks loaded with vegetables from the Central region and carrying crystal meth were heading south. Arkhom was apprehended at a petrol station in Phatthalung, and the other two suspects were apprehended driving two pickup trucks on Road No.41 in Surat Thani’s Chaiya district. The police seized 688 kilograms of crystal meth, three pickup trucks, and three mobile phones.

According to Deputy National Police Chief Pol Gen Chinapat Sarasin, the three suspects planned to smuggle the drug into another country. Following the arrests, Narcotics Suppression Division 4 collaborated with Metropolitan Police Division 7 and the armed forces security centre to further the investigation. Officers later apprehended four more members of the drug network who were selling drugs via the Line app in the Central provinces.

The second case occurred in the north, with police recently apprehending a 25-year-old man named Taweechai in the parking lot of a Big C supermarket in Ban Du Chiang Rai. About 300kg of crystal meth was discovered inside ten sacks of tea packages on the passenger seats of his black Mazda pickup truck, according to police.

The third incident occurred on Highway 117 in Nakhon Sawan, when Narcotic Suppression Division 3 and the Army Military Intelligence Command stopped and searched a Toyota Wish driven by a woman identified as Pakaorn, 43.

Police seized 84kg of crystal meth and arrested the woman, who said she was hired by someone using the Line ID “Fah Lang Fon”. Kanokthach, 35, was later apprehended by police in Pathum Thani.

Chiang Rai Man Acquitted of Drug Charges

The Criminal Court has found a man innocent after imprisoning him for two and a half years on drug and money laundering charges. Mr. Weerachot Suttikul was released yesterday after being remanded in custody by police in the middle of 2020.

On May 11, that year, police in Surat Thani discovered 200,000 methamphetamine pills and two kilograms of crystal meth hidden inside speakers sent from Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district to Surat Thani. The sender’s name and ID number were those of Mr Weerachot.

In August, a state prosecutor filed his case in court, presenting evidence that a courier company employee in Mae Sai district recognized Mr Weerachot as the sender based on a photo of him provided by police.

The employee also stated that Mr Weerachot visited his Chiang Rai office six times to send parcels.

However, the employee was unable to identify Mr Weerachot during a lineup in which he stood among six other people.

Mr Weerachot testified in court that on May 11, he was assigned to work with colleagues at two customers’ homes in Bangkok’s Bang Bon and Bang Khae districts as an employee of a pest control company.

He also had a fingerprint scanning record at his office, as well as CCTV footage of himself at work. His clients, manager, and colleagues also testified in court to support his claim.

With all of the evidence, the court determined that Mr Weerachot could not have been in Mae Sai district between 9 and 10 a.m. to send the parcels, even if he had flown to Bangkok for work on that day.

As a result, the prosecution’s case was deemed unsound. Mr Weerachot was then acquitted of the charges and ordered to be released immediately by the court.

The chairman of the Crime Victims Assistance Club, Atchariya Ruangrattanapong, said he would assist Mr Weerachot in receiving compensation from the Justice Ministry.

Mr. Weerachot’s mother expressed her relief that her son had finally received justice.