Police in northern Thailand seize 2.5 million methamphetamine pills; 2nd huge bust in 2 days
Friday, March 16

BANGKOK — Thai security forces have seized their second multimillion haul of methamphetamine pills in two days, bringing the total this year to more than 12 million tablets.

Police Col. Surachet Thopunyanon said a joint military-police force found 2.5 million methamphetamine tablets and 50 kilograms (110 pounds) of crystal meth Friday at a house in Chiang Rai, Thailand’s northernmost province bordering Myanmar and Laos. He said one Thai man and two Thai women were arrested.


Thai policemen guard packages containing about 2 million methamphetamine pills seized in Lampang province, prior to a press conference at the police headquarters in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, March 16, 2012.

Police Col. Suthep Chutimapanya said about 2 million pills were found in a pickup truck abandoned by four suspects near a drug checkpoint in Lampang province’s Maeprik district.

One male suspect was captured, but three others escaped even though helicopters were trying to track them.
( Sakchai Lalit / Associated Press )

Thailand is a leading market and transit point for methamphetamine, much of it produced in Myanmar.

The year’s biggest seizure of more than 4 million tablets was made at a checkpoint in Chiang Rai two weeks ago.

About 2 million tablets were seized Thursday in the northern province of Lampang.

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