Khon Kaen Bust: Police Seize 5 Million Meth Pills in 24 Hours

Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

In a significant crackdown in Khon Kaen, police seized five million methamphetamine pills within a single day. The operation involved two major arrests on separate occasions, highlighting the ongoing battle against drug trafficking in the region.

In the first incident, the Border Patrol Police Region 2, acting on intelligence, tracked a red MG car travelling from Udon Thani on Kud Yang Samakkhi Road in Kalasin province. The car, suspected of transporting drugs from Laos, was eventually intercepted at a hotel in Kalasin’s Mueang district. Hidden inside were one million methamphetamine pills packed in five sacks behind the seats.

Police Major General Kittisak Plathong revealed that the operation targeted a major drug trafficking network funnelling drugs from Laos through Kalasin to Khon Kaen. The joint operation involved multiple agencies, including narcotics suppression units and local police, who cornered the vehicle after a pursuit.

The driver, 26-year-old Thanaphon Watko from Kalasin, confessed to being hired to transport the haul for 15,000 Thai Baht (around 460 USD). His accomplice managed to evade arrest. Thanaphon now faces severe charges including the distribution of category 1 narcotics. Efforts are continuing to unravel the full extent of the network involved.

Later on the same day, a separate bust occurred when Khon Kaen highway police, alongside the narcotics suppression division, stopped a suspicious vehicle on Highway 262 near Ban Thum-Phra Yuen-Manjakiri Road. The female driver, appearing nervous, was initially travelling under the guise of visiting family.

Upon inspection, officers discovered a staggering 4,048,000 methamphetamine pills inside her vehicle. The woman faces charges of possession and distribution of category 1 narcotics, threats to public safety, and driving under the influence of methamphetamine. Legal proceedings are in motion.

These operations underscore the ongoing challenge of tackling drug trafficking routes into Thailand. Both incidents highlight the collaboration between various law enforcement agencies to stem the tide of narcotics entering the country. The seizures represent a significant success in disrupting a major flow of drugs, but they also serve as a reminder of the persistent work required to dismantle such criminal networks fully.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-07-07