Police arrest Laos-linked drug trafficking couple, 13,000 meth pills

Police officers arrested a couple in Ubon Ratchathani involved in a drug trafficking network from Laos, seizing over 13,000 methamphetamine pills they were transporting across provinces on a motorcycle.

Police from the Border Patrol Police 227 Ubon Ratchathani, in collaboration with the Highway Police and Khong Chiam Investigation Unit, today, July 18, received a tip-off about a drug delivery by a network linked to a Lao national. The drugs were to be delivered to customers in Khemmarat district.

Police set up a surveillance operation and spotted a suspicious man and woman riding a black Honda motorcycle without a license plate towards Nong Phue. The officers followed and intercepted the motorcycle.

The driver was identified as 23 year old Panumas, and his passenger as 22 year old Duangnapa, his wife. An initial search of the duo and the motorcycle revealed no illegal items. Prompting the police to escort Panumas and Duangnapa away from the scene to conduct further searches, as an officer had observed them discarding a black object before the police revealed themselves.

Upon searching the roadside vegetation, the officers discovered 13,800 methamphetamine pills in a blue plastic bag. Panumas and Duangnapa were charged with possessing and intending to distribute a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) illegally.

Panumas confessed that he had been hired by Thao Sin, a Lao national, to deliver the methamphetamine to dealers in Amnat Charoen province for a fee of 5,000 baht. However, Duangnapa maintained her innocence, denying involvement in the drug trafficking, reported KhaoSod.

The couple’s arrest highlights the ongoing issue of cross-border drug trafficking in the region. The police are now investigating further to dismantle the network and apprehend other involved parties.

In similar news, a high-speed chase involving a drug trafficking gang in Mukdahan province led to the arrest of one suspect and the seizure of 240,000 methamphetamine pills, while another suspect managed to escape into the forest.