Fruitless bust: Cops peel back trailer to find 13 million meth pills
Highway police in Prachuap Khiri Khan intercepted a trailer truck loaded with plastic baskets purportedly carrying fruits and vegetables, only to discover 13 million methamphetamine pills. Police are now investigating the broader drug network.
Yesterday, September 30, Police Lieutenant Colonel Phuttangoon Ruengtham from Highway Police Subdivision 3, Division 2, assigned Police Captain Wern Chaiyasa, along with Police Corporal Kittisak Pinket and eight officers, to set up a checkpoint.
The checkpoint was established at the Dong Mai Ngam U-turn, kilometre marker 378+500, in Baan Saikhu, Ronthong subdistrict, Bang Saphan district, Prachuap Khiri Khan province. The task was to prevent accidents and criminal activities.
The highway police had been tipped off by informants about a trailer truck suspected of transporting illegal goods heading south. The suspicious vehicle, a flatbed trailer with the registration number 71-9692 from Songkhla, arrived at the checkpoint covered tightly with a tarp. Officers signalled the driver to stop for inspection.
The driver, 52 year old Amon, from Satun, exited the vehicle without saying a word. However, his passenger, 39 year old Weerapong, from Trang, immediately fled. The officers chased and eventually apprehended him.
Upon inspecting the truck’s cargo area, which was covered with a tarp, officers found plastic baskets meant for fruits and vegetables. However, instead of produce, they discovered numerous yellow-wrapped bundles emitting a strong odour.
Preliminary counting revealed 65 baskets filled with methamphetamine pills. Both suspects and the seized drugs were taken to the Prachuap Khiri Khan Highway Police Station for further investigation, reported KhaoSod.
Police coordinated with forensic police to collect DNA evidence from the drug bundles. A detailed count confirmed approximately 13 million methamphetamine pills. Police are currently interrogating the two suspects to gather more information and have reported the findings to their superiors for further action.
In related news, two women were arrested after being caught with 120,920 methamphetamine pills in their vehicle. They confessed to having received the drugs from Laos and have been charged with possession of a Category 1 controlled substance.
