In a major drug bust, authorities last night apprehended 13 suspects and confiscated 2 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine from a large tugboat in Chachoengsao’s Bang Pakong district. The narcotics, believed to be headed for the Philippines and Australia, were discovered during a late-night search operation by marine and narcotics suppression police.

 

As law enforcement officers arrived, several individuals attempted to escape by jumping into the river. However, the police managed to capture all 13 culprits, all of whom were Thai nationals.

 

The narcotics were found stashed in 90 cardboard boxes, containing 2000 kilogrammes of crystal meth. To mask the odour, the drugs were concealed in bags of dried fruit within the cabins beneath the boat’s decks.

 

The commander of the Marine Police Division, Pharitphong, stated that the investigators had discovered that the smugglers intended to transfer the drugs to other vessels in international waters.

 

The Assistant National Police Chief, Samran Nuanma, and the Deputy Chief of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), Somboon Thiankhao, inspected the seized drugs at the pier. The apprehended suspects and the confiscated narcotics have been handed over to NSB investigators for further legal action.

 

By Mitch Connor

Caption: Police raid a tugboat at TNS Bangpakong jetty in Chachoengsao, arrest 13 suspects who attempted to flee by jumping in the river and seize 2 tonnes of crystal meth being smuggled overseas. (Picture courtesy of Bangkok Post)

 

Full story: The Thaiger 2023-12-05

 

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Always good to read continuing positive news about the Thai police.   I'm guessing that the snarky posters are working out how to bash this successful operation by the various divisions involved.

Edited December 5, 20232 yr by Liverpool Lou

The crappiest of all drugs is the one most produced and most sold. Another consequence of the war on drugs.

What origin are the drugs, Myanmar? What army does it fund? Just curious.

Bring back the heroin. 

12 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

As law enforcement officers arrived, several individuals attempted to escape by jumping into the river. However, the police managed to capture all 13 culprits, all of whom were Thai nationals

Pedaling misery.

Keep your stinking meth. This drug is ruining Australia. The losers organising this should stop and think. Get rich vs destroy the fabric of Australian society.

Is it worth it?

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The narcotics were found stashed in 90 cardboard boxes, containing 2000 kilogrammes of crystal meth.

Expect to see a large bonfire soon as the (empty) boxes are burned publicly.

That kind of news is enough to give the police sleepless nights....

There are massive drug busts, usually millions of meth (Ya Ba) pills, just about every week here. Mostly being transported through Thailand, from the north to the deep south, or Bangkok environs. for transshipment to a variety of foreign countries.

 

Crystal meth (Ya Ice) is a bit pricey for the local market so most of that gets shipped to foreign countries.

 

The precursors mostly originate in Thailand, and get shipped north, to processing facilities in Burma.

 

One has to assume that the RTA, and RTP, are either incompetent or are complicit in the transhipments of precursors and finished goods.

 

A Thai Parliamentary Senator, Senator Upakit Pachariyangkun, has been implicated in various illegal activities as the point-man in Thailand. An arrest warrant was issued, but it was quickly and quietly withdrawn. Upakit has powerful allies.

 

The attorney-general is scheduled to issue her decision on July 26 on whether to indict the senator on the charge of drug trafficking, according to the spokesman.

 

https://www.nationthailand.com/thailand/general/40027781