10 million baht asset seiure of drug smuggling logistics company
In a significant crackdown on drug smuggling and trafficking, police in Chiang Rai made a substantial breakthrough yesterday, apprehending three suspects at a logistics and transport company for their alleged involvement in smuggling over 2 million methamphetamine (Yaba) pills.
The Mae Sai Task Force Operations Command and the 327th Border Patrol Police, led by Police Colonel Raphat Boonma, the Commander of Division 3, accompanied by the Commander of the Military Task Force in Tak Province, Colonel Nathee Thimsen, and relevant agencies, announced the arrest of a drug trafficking syndicate operating in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.
The arrest followed a morning operation where authorities surrounded and searched a transportation company after receiving information about the clandestine operation of the transportation of large quantities of drugs into the country.
During the operation, authorities apprehended three suspects, 52 year old company manager Sakda, 28 year old Anucha, and 28 year old Kiettisak, along with 2.2 million Yaba pills. Additionally, assets valued at approximately 10 million baht were also seized.
The suspects were caught in the act as they were preparing to package the pills for distribution.
Preliminary investigations revealed that Sakda admitted to accepting the drug consignment for storage, in exchange for a fee of 20,000 baht.
The other two suspects confessed to being involved in smuggling drugs. They admitted to stationing the smuggled yaba pills in Koh Chang, an island by the Thai-Myanmar border area, before moving them over to the aforementioned transportation company in Chiang Rai, for a fee of 50,000 baht to each person per delivery.
Following interrogation, authorities proceeded to inspect and seize assets, including two properties, land, two 10-wheel trucks, three pickup trucks used for transporting goods in the company, and a Toyota Fortuner SUV, along with various other assets, all valued at more than 10 million baht, reported Khaosod.
In other news, an underwear thief, dressed only in his briefs, drove to a house and stole a collection of panties and underwear, later claiming it was the result of a dare. The incident took place on the morning of May 18 in Ban Pa Tueng Ngam, Pa O Don Chai sub-district, Mueng district, Chiang Rai.
