Phuket drug ring found weapons online

PHUKET: Four Thai men have been arrested after drug raids in Chalong uncovered crystal meth, guns, bullets and marijuana, police confirmed.

At a press conference yesterday, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teerapol Thipjaroen and staff announced that the arrests had been made by following online leads.

“Mr Teerapong Rithirak, 23, was caught on June 23 in Chalong, while trying to sell 1,700 pills of methamphetamine (ya bah); 0.7g of crystal meth (ya ice); and 52.6g of marijuana (ganja) to our undercover agents,” Col Teerapol said.

Teerapong allegedly confessed that he had received the contraband from Kittipong Chaupol, 21.

“Police raided Mr Kittipong’s house and found 7,400 ya bah pills, 337.5g of marijuana, 5 guns, and 268 bullets, as well as Pananat Praveeranan, 22, and Yongyuth Thipparong, 21, who are in Kittipong’s gang,” Col Teerapol said.

Police estimate the value of the seized items at half a million baht, including a car, cash and three mobile phones. The suspects are being held at Vichit Police Station.

Mr Kittipong reportedly told police that he had been discharged from Phuket Provisional Prison for a drug offence last year.

“Kittipong said he received most of the material for his operation from a ‘Mr Yai,’ and procured the weapons from social networking sites pointing to dealers in Thailand’s central region,” Col Teerapol said.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong