Thai police seize assets worth over 2 billion baht in massive raid
In a crackdown on a notorious transnational drug network, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau has seized assets worth over 2 billion baht. The network, involved in smuggling drugs from neighbouring countries into Thailand, has been dealt a significant blow.
Assistant National Police Chief, Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, revealed at a press conference on Friday that the bureau had intensified its investigations into the drug network’s operations over the past year.
“The network smuggled drugs from Myanmar, using a logistics company at Sailom Joy Market in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district.”
Shockingly, a former immigration police official had colluded with the network to streamline the smuggling operations.
From May 1 to 21, the bureau raided 35 locations across eight provinces in the North, northeast, Bangkok, and its surrounding areas.
“Police confiscated 3,097 assets linked to the drug network, including land title deeds, buildings, cars, motorcycles, guns, and electrical appliances, worth more than 2.03 billion baht.”
The bureau’s commissioner, Pol. Lt. Gen. Kirisak Tantinwachai, added that the police had summoned the owner of the implicated logistics company for questioning.
“Initially, the owner denied any involvement with the network but has since cooperated with the investigation.”
In a separate case, Kirisak reported that police had also investigated two suspects, identified as Taweesak and Marisa, who allegedly smuggled drugs from Nakhon Phanom province to a residence in Roi Et province, reported The Nation.
“On May 13, police raided the residence in Roi Et and discovered 12 bags containing 5.2 million drug tablets.”
Legal actions have been initiated against both suspects.
In related news, the maximum number of amphetamine pills one can possess without facing criminal prosecution is under review, as revealed by Public Health Minister Somsak Thepsutin. A meeting scheduled for Thursday, May 16, aims to reassess this limit, currently set at five pills.
In other news, a fisherman stumbled upon 20 kilogrammes of suspected drugs floating in the sea, which bore the same brand marks as a previous find. Upon discovery, he promptly reported the matter to the authorities.
