Mystery Phitsanulok prisoner deaths to be investigated

Police in Nonthaburi, just north of Bangkok, have arrested 12 people and rescued 9 underage girls in a pre-dawn raid on an un-licenced spa that was a front for prostitution. The Bangkok Post reports that the raid took place at a spa on the city’s Rattanathibet Road early yesterday morning.

Torsak Sukwimol from the Central Investigation Bureau says the raid was conducted by the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, following a tip-off that customers were being offered sexual services at the premises.

“We also found that the spa’s managers procured female sex workers, including some who were under 18, for its customers.”

It’s understood the facility opened in June of last year and used social media to recruit female workers. It does not have a licence to operate as a spa, and the age of some of the girls working there means the management face child prostitution charges.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Millions of methamphetamine pills, over 800 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, and over 700 kilograms of cannabis have been seized by police in 4 separate cases. The Narcotics Suppression Bureau confirmed the seizures, along with the arrests of 9 suspects, at its headquarters in Bangkok. The parade of police and the seized narcotics are a staple in Thai police PR.

The Bangkok Post reports that the first bust took place in the north-eastern province of Sakon Nakhon, when 19 year old Anupan Piemfah and 44 year old Monchai Pliennoi were arrested at a petrol station after police received a tip-off that they were in possession of 704 kilograms of cannabis. The drug was discovered in 16 sacks, inside a Toyota car. It’s understood the men had picked the drug up from suppliers in the north-east and were delivering it to customers in central and southern Thailand.

Police in the north-east also arrested 4 men and seized 455 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine and 50 ecstasy tablets. The suspects are 27 year old Thanapat Tancharoen, 28 year old Komsan Pothisonothai, 41 year old Wuthipong Surarit, and 33 year old Niran Thongkallaya. They are accused of picking the drugs up at various locations along the Mekong River in the north-eastern province of Nakhon Phanom, with plans to deliver the drugs to customers in the southern province of Pattani, on the Malaysian border. During the arrests, Wuthipong shot at police as he tried to flee. He and Komsan also face charges of illegal possession of firearms.

3 men of Hmong ethnicity who live in Tak province, bordering Myanmar, have been arrested in Nakhon Phanom and the northern province of Nakhon Sawan. All 3 are accused of transporting over 4 million methamphetamine pills, concealed in 19 sacks. They have been named as 33 year old Noohua Sae Mah, 28 year old Wathanyu Sae Song, and 22 year old Niboon Songsatwong.

The fourth case netted 370 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, 400,000 meth pills and 250 kilos of ketamine, which were seized at a sugar cane farm in the north-eastern province of Nakhon Ratchasima, also known as Korat. It’s understood the drugs were due to be picked up by smugglers. As yet, there have been no arrests in this case.

Last week, police seized over 11 tonnes of ketamine, valued around 29 billion baht, that was being stored at a warehouse in the province of Chachoengsao, just east of Bangkok.

SOURCE: Bangkok Post

Police arrested 2 lottery ticket distributors in Lop Buri, Central Thailand, for allegedly collecting money from lottery ticket sellers and failing to deliver the tickets for the October 16 and November 1 draws which were worth more than 400 million baht.

More than 100 lottery ticket sellers filed a complaint at the Surin province’s Rattanaburi Police Station, saying they purchased lottery tickets from the distributors, but they tickets were not delivered. One seller said they purchased the tickets for 80 baht each, but had to buy at least 500 tickets.

“They delivered the first 4-5 lots on time, but in October we could no longer contact them despite already having given them the money… After their arrest, we have submitted an appeal to the police to deny them bail as they might get out and coerce the sellers.”

Police say the distributors accused of fraud had fled from Surin and were hiding at a house in Lop Buri. Officers tracked down and arrested Thossaphon Jitmaen and Yutthana Thongkham.

Police say they found 700,000 baht in cash at the house. The suspects also allegedly confessed to selling the lottery tickets and failing to deliver them.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand