Man caught smuggling 100kg of ketamine worth 100 million baht
Police in Sa Kaeo apprehended a man attempting to smuggle 100 kilogrammes of ketamine worth over 100 million baht from Cambodia into Thailand, claiming he believed he was transporting returned goods.
Yesterday, July 4, at 6pm, a significant drug bust occurred at the Nong Ian Customs intersection, a permanent border checkpoint in Aranyaprathet district, Sa Kaeo. Commander of the Burapha Task Force, Major General Theppitak Nimit, ordered the mission, led by Commander of the 13th Ranger Regiment, Colonel Karin Utsaha. The operation saw collaboration between various agencies including the customs department, immigration and local police forces.
The joint operation inspected vehicles crossing the border between Thailand and Cambodia at the Nong Ian Customs intersection. During the inspection, a truck aroused the officer’s suspicions due to the driver’s nervous behaviour, prompting a thorough search. The driver was identified as Wayo, a man from Buriram.
Inside the vehicle, six cardboard boxes containing 20 plastic packages each were discovered. The packages, suspected to contain drugs, were seized for further examination. Initial tests by forensic police confirmed that the packages contained a type of narcotic, presumed to be ketamine.
The smuggled drugs were packaged in white plastic bags, each containing 5 kilogrammes, totalling 100 kilogrammes. The estimated market value of the seized ketamine is approximately 100 million baht. The drugs were hidden behind the driver’s seat. Wayo, who was detained along with the confiscated drugs, claimed ignorance, stating that he believed the boxes contained returned goods destined for a factory in Chon Buri province.
Maj. Gen. Theppitak, who personally oversaw and directed the operation, praised the coordinated effort of all involved units. He emphasised the importance of this successful drug seizure in maintaining the safety and well-being of the border communities in Sa Kaeo province and the nation as a whole, reported KhaoSod.
In separate news, a Thai man today was arrested in Chanthaburi for heartlessly robbing an elderly curry shop owner, stripping her golden bracelet to fund his drug abuse habits. CCTV footage captured the incident clearly, leading to the suspect’s capture, who had a prior history of deceiving and robbing elderly shop owners.
