Surat Thani police seize 404,000 meth pills after car chase

Police in Surat Thani arrested two men and seized 404,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills following a dramatic car chase.

The suspects, 31 year old Suriyen, and 25 year old Sitthipong, were apprehended after attempting to flee from the police.

Surat Thani Governor Jetsada Jitrat, who also serves as the Director of the Provincial Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), directed the operation. Colonel Thitipong Inwasa, Deputy Commander of the 45th Military Circle and Deputy Director of ISOC Surat Thani, coordinated with Regional 8 Police investigators to carry out the arrests.

The police were tipped off about a planned drug exchange on Southern Road in Moo 5, Krut subdistrict, Kanchanadit district. Acting on this information, police set up a surveillance operation and soon spotted the black Toyota Vigo pickup truck, registration number 5636 Surat Thani, parked on the roadside with its hazard lights flashing.

When the officers moved in to make the arrest, Suriyen, who was driving, attempted to escape by speeding away. Police were forced to shoot at the vehicle’s tyres, causing them to burst, which eventually led to the capture of both suspects. Sitthipong tried to flee on foot but was quickly apprehended.

A search of the vehicle revealed sacks filled with meth pills in the truck’s bed. During questioning, both men confessed that the drugs belonged to them and that they had more hidden at a residence in Moo 3, Khlong Sa subdistrict, Kanchanadit district. A subsequent search of this location uncovered a total amount of 404,000 meth pills.

Suriyen admitted that he was instructed by Wanchai, also known as Luang Neung, to collect 800,000 meth pills from a roadside location on Ban Nai – Khlong Sa Road on August 9. He was to hide the drugs at the specified house and await further instructions from Luang Neung. For this task, he was promised a payment of 50,000 baht.

Sitthipong explained that while visiting Suriyen, he was invited to join in delivering the drugs to a customer. Suriyen promised him that if they successfully delivered the methamphetamine, Luang Neung would pay them 10,000 baht, of which Sitthipong would receive 5,000 baht. Sitthipong agreed, leading to their eventual capture.

Following their confessions, police proceeded with the legal process against the two suspects, reported KhaoSod.