Highway police seize 13 million meth pills in Prachuap Khiri Khan

Highway police confiscated over 13 million methamphetamine (meth) pills and apprehended two couriers in Bang Saphan district of Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday, September 30.

Officers intercepted a 22-wheel trailer truck with a Songkhla licence plate at a checkpoint located at kilometre marker 378 on Phetkasem Road. During a search, they discovered meth pills concealed in numerous plastic baskets, covered by a canvas tarpaulin at the back of the truck.

The driver, 51 year old Amorn Thongchuchuay, along with his companion, 39 year old Weerapong Kongkaew, were arrested. According to police, the duo admitted to picking up the drugs from Sai Noi district in Nonthaburi province and were en route to Thung Song in Nakhon Si Thammarat, where the pills were intended to be smuggled out of the kingdom.

“The suspects disclosed they earned 200,000 baht for transporting the drugs, and this was their second time undertaking such a job.”

Police Major General Kongkrit Lertsitthikun, commander of the Highway Police Division, stated that the 13.1 million pills had an estimated street value of about 1 billion baht. He noted that the traffickers exploited the situation as many officers had been redeployed for flood relief operations in northern Thailand. The investigation into the broader drug network is ongoing.

From October last year to August, highway police arrested 1,569 suspects in drug-related cases and seized approximately 100 million meth pills, 568 kilogrammes of ketamine, 471 kilogrammes of crystal meth, and 127 kilogrammes of heroin, reported Bangkok Post.

In related news, police in Sai Mai district, Bangkok, arrested a young man for dealing meth, seizing a significant quantity of drugs and ammunition. The suspect confessed to distributing drugs for over eight years, starting at the age of 17.

Police Major General Attapol Anusit, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 2, along with Deputy Commander Sakdit Sitthisawat and other senior officers, successfully apprehended the 25 year old suspect near Phemsin Bridge on Klong Song Road on September 10.