Ill-gotten wealth of drug gang seized

[Thaivisa News]

Chiang Rai: – The authorities have seized 20 million baht worth of ill-gotten gains from a drug gang led by ex-police officer.

The seized assets include a house estimated to worth seven million baht, one million baht cash, 29 vehicles and 15 motorcycles.

The drug gang operated in Mae Sai and Wiang Kaen districts.

The Office of Narcotics Control Board is the lead agency to crack down on the gang before initiating the seizure of drug wealth.

The case came to light in August, 2014. Drug busters arrested Lt Colonel Chamnan Phumphaijit, who was then deputy superintendent of Chai Prakan police station.

Chamnan was caught red-handed and in uniform while trying to deliver 800,000 methamphetamine tablets in Mae Sai district. He was discharged from the police service.

Chamnan’s arrest led to the crackdown on the gang. Police nabbed gang members including Natthachai Chanthapan, 47, Nichayanan Mahathanasithichok, 25, and Anuphol Wongsai, 32.

The suspects are facing criminal prosecution for the drug charges. The asset seizure is a separate civil proceeding.

In another development, police and Army volunteer rangers conducted a raid at a Hmong village in Wiang Kaen district, near the borders with Laos.

They targeted to search a house owned by drug suspect Ja Sae Yang, 39.

Ja fled his home and gunfire erupted during hot pursuit. He was found dead after the gunfire and one raid team member sustained gun-wound injuries.

The authorities said they suspected Ja as a key trafficker in the village.

ONCB chief Permpong Chaovalit said the authorities have detected a rise of illicit drugs sent as parcels via passenger bus services between Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai.

Permpong reminded bus passengers to always have their name and address attached to their belongings.

He also said bus companies are liable to face legal proceedings if they accept to deliver parcels without a clear name and address of sender and/or recipient.

[Thaddeus]

Chamnan was caught red-handed and in uniform while trying to deliver 800,000 methamphetamine tablets in Mae Sai district. He was discharged from the police service.

So, they do lose their jobs, bet he got bail though and is headed for points distant.

[ezzra]

Sadly, such article will still feature prominently in news pages for years to come, there is no

remedy or cure for greed and stupidity..... the higher thy are the greedier and stupid they're...

[bino]

The seized assets include a house estimated to worth seven million baht, one million baht cash, 29 vehicles and 15 motorcycles.

29 vehicles and 15 motorcycles only worth the remaining 12 mil? Must have looked like a junkyard.

[Pinot]

Efforts in the drug suppression biz should always be directed up. Catch a street dealer and he has to give up his supplier, and he has to give up his supplier. Follow the line of distribution up. It seems like it's rarely done. I'm sick of hearing about street dealer busts of a few thousand pills. Where did you buy them?

[glasswort]

Efforts in the drug suppression biz should always be directed up. Catch a street dealer and he has to give up his supplier, and he has to give up his supplier. Follow the line of distribution up. It seems like it's rarely done. I'm sick of hearing about street dealer busts of a few thousand pills. Where did you buy them?

Ask the right questions and you may get the right answers.