Crime Drug Gang Busted in Hua Hin Villa

[Georgealbert]

 

Picture courtesy of SiamRath.

 

Police have arrested members of the infamous “Sergeant M16” drug trafficking network, a syndicate accused of moving more than 10 million methamphetamine pills, during a raid on a pool villa in Hua Hin.

 

The operation, led by Metropolitan Police Bureau investigators and Romsai police, resulted in the capture of four high-value suspects, each carrying a government-issued bounty of 1.5 million baht. The gang is considered one of the country’s most significant narcotics groups of 2025.

 

The main suspect, identified as Somchai “Boe” Rungraksa, is alleged to be the leader of the syndicate. He had been wanted under multiple arrest warrants, including for conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine and ketamine. Police revealed that Somchai, aged in his 40s, has a long history of serious criminal charges, including narcotics, firearms, murder and attempted murder, dating back to his teenage years. His nickname “Sergeant M16” is said to stem from previous cases involving the military-grade assault rifle.

 

Also arrested were Panuwat “Toh” Saenmarnot, wanted in connection with ketamine and methamphetamine trafficking cases in Samut Prakan and Chaiya. Panudet “Am” Kaewpradab, facing conspiracy charges for narcotics trafficking and Mongkolsak “Sak” Natika, under warrants for distribution of methamphetamine.

 

Police said the arrests were linked to a major seizure earlier in 2024, when officers intercepted over 10 million meth pills and 60 kilograms of ketamine in Samut Prakan. Follow-up raids in June this year netted more than 13.4 million pills, six cars and 17 modified motorbikes, further exposing the reach of the syndicate.

 

After evading capture abroad, Somchai is believed to have been tasked with expanding the group’s market in southern Thailand, where government anti-drugs operations have intensified under the nationwide “No Drugs, No Dealers” campaign. He allegedly returned to Thailand recently and relocated to Hua Hin to establish a new distribution hub.

 

On 18 August, acting on intelligence, police moved in on a rented pool villa in the Hin Lek Fai area of Hua Hin, where Somchai and his associates were hiding. They were arrested without incident.

 

Authorities described the bust as a major victory in the fight against narcotics trafficking. “This syndicate posed a serious threat to public security,” said Pol Maj Gen Kiatkul Sonthenen, commander of Metropolitan Police Division 3. “By dismantling their network, we have prevented large volumes of methamphetamine from reaching communities in southern Thailand.”

 

The suspects have been remanded in custody and face prosecution on multiple charges of conspiracy, drug trafficking, and violent offences. Police confirmed they will continue to pursue other members of the network still at large.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from SiamRath 2025-08-20