Police seize 240,000 meth pills after high-speed chase

A high-speed chase involving a drug trafficking gang in Mukdahan province led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 240,000 methamphetamine pills, while another suspect managed to escape into the forest.

Under the supervision of Chatchai, the provincial police chief, officers were instructed to intensify drug trafficking inspections. The operation, led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Phonchai Phuchomchit and Police Captain Pradit Wongcharee, involved setting up checkpoints to combat crime and illegal substances.

Around 8.30pm yesterday, July 17, officers at the Chokchai checkpoint in Nikhom Kham Soi district observed a white Isuzu pickup truck with a Sisaket license plate approaching. Upon seeing the checkpoint, the driver made a sudden U-turn and sped off, prompting the police to give chase.

The police pursued the vehicle, which took a detour along the Nikhom Kham Soi-Nong Sung-Khon Kaen route. Despite signals and sirens from the police, the truck continued to flee at high speed. When the chase reached the Nong Nok Khian-Khok Hin Kong route, one of the passengers threw an object out of the truck.

The pursuit continued across districts until it reached Ban Khok Hin Kong in Nong Sung Tai subdistrict, covering a distance of approximately 20 kilometres.

The driver, identified as 35 year old Wilasak, stopped the vehicle. However, another male passenger, described as agile, fled into a nearby forest and evaded capture despite the officers’ efforts. An inspection of the vehicle revealed suspicious objects inside the rear cabin. The items thrown out of the vehicle were also retrieved and found to be methamphetamine pills.

The suspect and the confiscated items were taken to Nikhom Kham Soi Police Station for detailed inventory. The seized drugs, wrapped in yellow wax paper and marked with the Y1 symbol, amounted to 240,000 pills.

Additionally, a mobile phone was confiscated, suspected to be part of the drug trafficking operation. The police believe this is a significant drug trafficking gang operating in the area.

The suspect faces charges of jointly selling a category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) and possessing it with intent to distribute without permission, a violation of narcotics laws. The police also charged him with driving under the influence of narcotics, reported KhaoSod.

The arrested individual, along with all the confiscated evidence, was handed over to investigators at Nikhom Kham Soi Police Station for further questioning and to uncover other members of the gang.