450kg of crystal meth seized in northeast Thailand chase
Thai police arrest three in drug crackdown in Nong Khai province
A high-speed police chase in Thailand’s northeast ended with a massive drug haul and three traffickers in cuffs.
Police in Nong Khai province have arrested three men and seized a staggering 450 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, known as “Ice”, following a dramatic pursuit through Tha Bo district.
The suspects, 23 year old Prasobsuk, 28 year old Thongthawat, and 20 year old Chalanthorn, all from Khon Kaen, were nabbed after attempting to dodge a police checkpoint. The haul, with an estimated street value of over 450 million baht, was discovered in three vehicles used by the suspects.
Police Major General Kittisak Plathong, commander of Border Patrol Police Region 2, told reporters that the arrest was the result of months of surveillance.
“We have been tracking this network for over a year. They regularly rented cars from various outlets to move narcotics undetected.”
Officers received intelligence suggesting a major shipment was en route from Bueng Kan to Bangkok, passing through Nong Khai and Khon Kaen. Officers were strategically deployed along the suspected smuggling corridor.
The drama unfolded when three suspicious vehicles approached the checkpoint. Police signalled the drivers to stop, but instead they hit the accelerator, sparking a high-speed chase. The police managed to intercept and stop the convoy, arresting the three suspects. However, three accomplices fled the scene and remain at large.
During initial questioning, the suspects allegedly confessed they were promised 300,000 baht to transport the drugs. They also admitted to receiving ecstasy pills — stamped with the cartoon character Labubu — as part of their payment, according to Pol. Maj. Gen. Kittisak.
Following the arrest, police displayed the seized methamphetamine during a press conference in Khon Kaen, showcasing the scale of the operation, reported Bangkok Post.
The investigation is ongoing, with officers pursuing leads to locate the remaining suspects and dismantle the broader trafficking network.
In similar news, police raided two worker camps in Srisoonthorn, central Phuket, on Tuesday, April 29, resulting in the arrest of two Myanmar nationals and one Thai national. The crackdown followed drug tests that revealed methamphetamine use among six Myanmar workers. Around 150 workers were screened during the two-hour operation.
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