Krabi raid nets a kilo of crystal meth

PHUKET: A Region 8 Police task force smashed a six-man drug trafficking ring in Krabi over the weekend, seizing more than 40,000 methamphetamine pills (ya ba) and more than a kilogram of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice), as well as cash and assets with a combined value of more than 4 million baht.

Police were able to close in on the gang with information gleaned from a drug-related arrest the previous day.

Officers first arrested Jaran Theprun, 45, in Surat Thani on Friday. Mr Jaran had eight ya ba pills on his person. He was charged with possession of a Category 1 drug.

“From him, we were able to gather information about his suppliers, which led to the arrest of the six suspects in Khao Phanom district in Krabi,” said Region 8 Police Commander Tesa Siriwato.

The raid in Krabi netted 42,489 ya ba pills, 1.256 grams of ya ice, 1.87 million baht in cash and other assets, including eight mobile phones, three pick-up trucks, a motorbike and four digital scales, confirmed Lt Tesa.

The suspects were named as Sinchai Somduang, 49; Pichet Kayaikaew, 41; Jirasak Sangkuea 41; Panta Pupaniet, 35; Pornchai Glansuvann, 45; and Noppadon Nonthasee, 71.

All six were charged for possession of a Category 1 drug with intent to sell.

“One of the dealers further implicated a prisoner named ‘Kiet’ who is currently in Bang Kwang Prison,” said Lt Tesa.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong