Police Bust Billion-Baht Drug Networks Across Thailand

Picture courtesy of Narcotics Suppression Bureau) | via Bangkok Post

Thai narcotics police have announced a significant breakthrough in their fight against drug networks. Numerous suspects, both Thai and foreign, have been arrested, with seizures from these operations valued at over 1 billion baht. The deputy national police chief, Pol Gen Samran Nualma, shared these developments at the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in Bangkok.

Several high-profile arrests highlight the scale of the operations. A Nigerian scammer was caught exploiting a Hungarian woman, who was coerced into smuggling 5.7 kilogrammes of cocaine. Posing as a Korean online, the scammer had promised the woman a romantic getaway and a wedding in Belgium. Thai police cooperated with the Hungarian embassy, ensuring the woman's safe return home.

In an ongoing investigation, twenty-five suspects tied to a drug network led by former psychiatrist Anchulee “Dr Air” Theerawongpaisal have been apprehended. This network included various professionals and dealers, who exploited clinic names to illegally procure and sell controlled drugs. Police have seized over 210,000 illicit pills and assets worth more than 525 million baht.

A separate bust involved the arrest of four Chinese nationals who produced and distributed ketamine-laced vapes, known as "Pod-K." Raids in Pattaya, Bangkok, and Nonthaburi uncovered a production site, hidden drugs, and sales facilitated through the Telegram app. Additionally, police, in collaboration with the US DEA, detained 11 suspects involved in smuggling controlled substances abroad.

Pol. Gen. Samran praised the collaborative efforts between Thai and international agencies, emphasising the importance of their joint operations in dismantling these networks, according to the Bangkok Post.

Key Takeaways

• Major drug networks dismantled, seizures valued over 1 billion baht.
• Arrests include suspects from a Nigerian scam and a prominent Thai psychiatrist's network.
• Police operation extends to Chinese nationals involved in the ketamine vape production.

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from Bangkok Post 2025-12-04