Police have arrested four men and seized 1,970 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine in Bangkok, as part of a major drug trafficking operation targeting southern Thailand. The suspects were intercepted at a petrol station on Rat Burana Road before they could transport the drugs onto a ferry bound for Koh Samui in Surat Thani. Authorities said the haul, nearly two tonnes, represents a significant disruption to a well-established trafficking network.
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The arrests were announced on 10 April by senior police officials, including Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief, alongside other commanders from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau. The suspects were identified as Ekasit Phromma, 37, Nattaworn, 26, Mesa, 25 and Nopparat, 31. Officers also seized two vehicles used in the operation: an Isuzu box truck registered in Sa Kaeo and a Toyota van registered in Bangkok.
Investigators said the group was part of a Prachin Buri-based network that had repeatedly smuggled drugs via ferry routes to the south. The operation involved dividing roles, with one suspect driving ahead in a van to scout checkpoints while another transported the drugs in the truck. The methamphetamine had been collected from Lop Buri and temporarily stored at a house in Prachin Buri before being moved to Bangkok.
The group attempted to exploit ferry booking systems by reserving space for only the truck shortly before closing time, paying 2,500 baht. Meanwhile, the suspects planned to fly separately to Don Sak in Surat Thani, where they would retrieve the vehicle and deliver the drugs onward to Phatthalung for further distribution across the lower southern region.
Pictures courtesy of Matichon
Ferry operators said the case has prompted an immediate review of security procedures, particularly during busy festival periods when passenger volumes are high. They acknowledged that traffickers may have previously used similar tactics and pledged tighter screening measures to prevent illegal goods being transported.
Pol Gen Samran said the network had been active for some time and linked to at least 10 previous arrests. He noted that each shipment typically involved large quantities, often exceeding 1,000 kilograms and that traffickers had shifted to sea routes after increased enforcement along major southern highways.
Matichon rported that during questioning, Ekasit admitted he had carried out similar deliveries seven times, earning 100,000 baht per trip. Police have transferred all suspects and evidence to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for legal proceedings and are expanding the investigation to identify higher-level organisers.
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Adapted by ASEAN Now Matichon 11 Apr 2026
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