Police pose as delivery riders to arrest drug smugglers in Thailand
Nakhon Ratchasima police orchestrated a sting operation by pretending to be delivery riders, leading to the arrest of two drug smugglers: a Thai man and a Lao woman involved in trafficking 400,000 methamphetamine pills across the Mekong River to Thailand, valued at 6 million baht.
Both suspects confessed to the crime, citing unemployment as the motive, and received a payment of 50,000 baht (US$1,470) for their involvement.
Today, February 3, at the Provincial Police Region 3 Investigation Division in Nakhon Ratchasima, Police Lieutenant General Wathana Yeejeen, the Commissioner of Region 3, along with other police officials, announced the arrest of 52 year old Suriya “Yin” Noikaew from Nakhon Phanom, and 21 year old Phonethip Sengmany, a Lao national from Bolikhamxai Province in Laos.
The police seized 68 packages of methamphetamine, with a total of 400,000 pills, which were marked with the Y-1 symbol and wrapped in clear plastic and aluminium foil.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Wathana explained the events leading to the arrest. Officers from Pho Klang Police Station in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, expanded their investigation following arrests of minor drug users and dealers.
Information from an informant revealed a Thai-Laotian drug network smuggling drugs from the northeastern border into the region and facilitating financial transactions through bank accounts.
Drug smuggling
The police collaborated with the Investigation Division 2 of the Provincial Police Region 3 to tackle this extensive drug network operating in several areas.
On Saturday, February 1, they detected movements indicating drugs would be transported from Nakhon Phanom’s border to dealers in Nakhon Ratchasima, specifically in Nong Takhlong Village, Mueang district.
Undercover police posed as food and beverage delivery riders, strategically positioned around the area. Around 4pm, a grey Toyota Revo pickup truck with Bangkok registration entered the village and approached a location used for waste disposal near a marshy area.
Suriya, identified as the suspect, exited the vehicle and was observed retrieving items from a green fertiliser sack. The police intervened, revealing their identities and requesting to search the vehicle.
Upon realising it was a sting operation, Suriya discarded the sack into the marshland and attempted to flee but was captured. A search of the sack revealed the 400,000 methamphetamine pills valued at 6 million baht (US$176,220).
The vehicle was brought to Investigation Division 2 for further inspection using a handheld scanner, which uncovered additional methamphetamine hidden under the truck’s floor and beneath the passenger seat’s speaker box.
The suspects were taken to investigate at Chor Hor Police Station in Mueang district, Nakhon Ratchasima. Suriya claimed he was unemployed and accepted the job for the first time to earn money, while Phonethip denied any involvement, stating she was only accompanying Suriya as his girlfriend.
Both face charges of possession and distribution of a category one narcotic (methamphetamine) without permission, which poses significant risks to public safety and state security.
The police have called on residents and business establishments to report any drug-related activities or suspicious behaviour through the drug hotline 1599, emergency hotline 191, or the Police I lert U application, available 24 hours, reported KhaoSod.
The aim is to continue the crackdown on drug-related offences and enhance public safety by reducing the drug problem and associated crime.
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