Picture courtesy of Naewna

 

An SUV carrying a vast quantity of crystal meth crashed into the central median in Udon Thani on the night of 20 September, leading police to uncover nearly 450 kilograms of narcotics worth hundreds of millions of baht. Residents were startled by the loud collision at Ban Lao Udom, Ban Dung district, before seeing the driver and two passengers flee the scene in another vehicle. Officers arriving shortly afterwards were shocked to find nine large sacks inside the car, containing 448 packages of methamphetamine crystals.

 

The incident occurred at around 22.30 when the black-grey Kia driver, vehicle registered in Udon Thani, lost control at a junction connecting routes 2096, 2230 and 2092. The vehicle sustained front-end damage after hitting the traffic island at the Ban Lao Udom. Witnesses reported rushing out to help but instead saw the occupants abandon the car and escape, leaving behind the illicit cargo.

 

A search revealed the narcotics concealed in clear plastic wraps and blue leopard-print bags, each containing roughly one kilogram of crystal meth. In total, 448 kilograms of the drug were recovered, with a street value running into hundreds of millions of baht. Police confirmed this seizure represents one of the largest drug hauls in the province.

 

Inside the vehicle, officers also found the identity card of 17-year-old Suttichok from Phon Phisai district, Nong Khai, who has three prior drug-related cases. Checks on the car’s registration identified the owner as 20-year-old Kantapong, from the same district, with four drug-related cases on record. Both young men are believed to be part of an established trafficking network.

 

Pol Col Pongpan Nakwa, Superintendent of Ban Dung Police Station, said the seized evidence had been registered as criminal case 400/2568 and sent for forensic testing in Udon Thani. He confirmed investigators are actively tracking suspects and expanding inquiries into the wider network thought to operate across several provinces. Officers believe the vehicle crashed due to high speed and unfamiliarity with the route, forcing the occupants to flee before abandoning the contraband.

 

Police are now intensifying efforts to arrest those linked to the case and dismantle the trafficking network. Authorities say the operation highlights ongoing challenges in combating the transport of narcotics across provincial routes.

 

 

Key Takeaways

 

• Police in Udon Thani seized 448kg of crystal meth after an SUV crash.

• Identity documents link the suspects, aged 17 and 20, to multiple drug cases.

• Investigators are pursuing a wider trafficking network across provinces.

 

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  Adapted by Asean Now from Naewna 2025-09-22

 

 

 

 

You really need to abstain from consuming your product when you're delivering it.