Police bust Phuket ya bah connection
PHUKET: Police have arrested three men and three women, and confiscated 5,830 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills imported from Laos, in two separate but related raids.
On Tuesday evening, police arrested Dej “Reem” Suebsod, 42, from Phuket, after he sold a bag containing about 30 ya bah pills to an undercover officer during a sting operation in front of Moo Baan Iravadee on the bypass road, Lt Col Somkid Boonrat of Phuket City Police Station told the Gazette.
Police also arrested two women who were riding pillion on Reem’s motorbike: Panadda Limalai, 32, from Chaiyaphum, and Ornouma Sittidej, 29, from Phuket.
Lt Col Somkid said that during questioning Reem told police that he was only the ‘runner’ for a local dealer, Somchai “Bung Marn” Kanuengkarn, 35, from Phuket.
Reem said that he was expected to meet Somchai the following morning at an inter-province bus stop near Thalang Police Station on Thepkrasattri Rd, where the pair would receive a delivery of ya bah pills, he added.
At the bus stop yesterday morning, Reem and Somchai met Suriyan “Joy” Kaimook, 25, from Phuket, and Supattra “A” Srimueng, 33, from Bangkok, as planned.
As the four were walking to Somchai’s pickup, police moved in and asked to inspect the women’s bags. In the luggage police found about 5,800 ya bah pills, Lt Col Somkid said.
“They brought the ya bah pills from Laos, and entered Thailand at Nong Khai by bus,” he said. “They were all charged with drug trafficking and possession of a Class 1 narcotic with intent to sell.”
“Somchai and Suriyan were arrested for ya bah distribution in Phuket about seven and a half years ago, and were released from jail last year,” Lt Col Somkid added.
The drugs seized had a street value of about 1,073,000 baht.
