Thread: Big drug busts continue

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011...-30150188.html

Large drug busts

By The Nation
Published on March 6, 2011

A man and two women who broke through a police checkpoint were arrested yesterday in Songkhla and found with methamphetamine pills and "Ice" hidden in their underwear.

Pol Colonel Suriya Panyamang told the media that the man, identified as 30-year-old Watchara Petcharat, had an extensive criminal record.Two women arrested were identified as 19-year-old Pawinee Petch-thong and a female minor aged 17. All are from Songkhla's Chana district.

Five bags of drugs containing 1,000 'ya ba' tablets were confiscated inside the underwear of the female minor. Two more bags, containing 102 gms of "Ice" were found, along with a 9mm handgun. The value of the drugs was put at Bt700,000.

The arrest was part of an on-going crackdown on drugs.

In another arrest on Friday, some 5kg of "Ice" worth about Bt23 million and drug money was found in Wangthong Larng in Bangkok. Police believe that four people arrested are part of a drug-trafficking ring based in Chiang Rai province.

2.6 million methamphetamine pills, 102 kg of 'ice' seized in Phitsanulok

2.6 million methamphetamine pills, 102 kg of 'ice' seized in Phitsanulok

วันพุธ ที่ 09 มี.ค. 2554

• • 

PHITSANULOK, March 9 -- Police in the northern province of Phitsanulok seized 2.6 million pills of methamphetamine, 'Ya Ba', and 102 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride, 'ice', with an estimated street value of more than Bt1 billion.

The joint operation of Border Patrol Police and provincial police in Phitsanulok's Chat Trakan district seized the large amount of illegal drugs as they were on duty at a check-point at Phu Soi-dao National Park.

Police were suspicious of a pickup truck pulled over on the roadside before the check-point, and asked to search the vehicle, but the driver tried to flee.

The authorities then blocked the road around the area and caught the pickup at Ban Rak Thai, Bo Phak sub-district of Chat Trakan district, but the suspect gang, believed to have more than five members, had escaped.

Searching the pickup, police found 2.61 million methamphetamine pills and 102 kilogramme of ice which have street value of more than Bt1 billion.

Police were search the area and planned to use a helicopter to find the suspects.

The suspects were believed to be members of a major drug syndicate which transfered drugs from Myanmar and Laos before bringing the drugs to Thailand via the connected route between Uttaradit and Phitsanulok to avoid police.

However, the police did not know the destination of the shipment. (MCOT online news)

http://www.nationmultimedia.com/2011...-30150508.html

Police announce huge recent drug hauls

By JESSADA CHANTARARAK
THE NATION
Published on March 10, 2011

Phitsanulok Police have seized around 2,600,000 ya ba tablets and 102 kilograms of crystal meth from drug smugglers, while Prachuap Khiri Khan Police arrested an Indian man with 22 kilograms of heroin, it was announced at a press conference yesterday.

<snip>

As for the Prachuap Khiri Khan case, national police chief Pol-General Wichien Pojprosri announced police in the province had arrested Indian national Ammed Siyid, 29, along with 22kg of heroin worth Bt1.3 billion.

The arrest was made at Thap Sakae bus station at 00.20am yesterday following a tip-off that a foreigner was transporting drugs by bus from Bangkok to Songkhla.

The Indian reportedly confessed he was hired by a Malaysian investor to deliver the drugs to Songkhla in exchange for Bt30,000.

Police will investigate further to find and arrest his accomplices.

30,000 baht for delivering 22 k's of smack, hmmmm, someone's telling porkies.

Originally Posted by dirtydog

I find it quite amazing that so many people are willing to bring drugs into a country that has the death penalty.

That "should" inform people about the effectiveness of death penalties, but it won't.

When the authorities boast about bigger drug busts it just means that the shipments that make it through are bigger, too. And most do get through.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1041650



2 Drug Busts in North, South

UPDATE : 11 March 2011

Songkhla police have seized a large number of items worth 20 million baht in a drug search following a car crash.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai police have arrested two suspected drug dealers and seized 300,000 speed pills.


Police said they have seized cash worth 3.3 million baht, two sedans, gold ornaments, two guns, drugs and many other items worth at least 20 million baht in total during a search at a house in Hat Yai district in Songkhla province, owned by a local drug ring.

The arrest came after they found cash of seven million baht hidden in a vehicle that was involved in a crash a few days ago.

They said they conducted a further probe to determine the source of the money and found that the sum belonged to a drug ring.

Suspects Sainudin Ma and Yusop Manbenmat were arrested during the search.

In a separate case, Chiang Mai police said they confiscated 300,000 methamphetamine pills and arrested two suspected dealers Thawin Thima and Wichai Sakhon when the pair were stopped at a checkpoint in Mae Taeng district.

The suspects said they were hired by a businessman in Fang district to deliver the drugs to the central province of Samut Sakhon.

Bangkok Post : Cops seize B35m assets in drug raid

Cops seize B35m assets in drug raid

Kingpin suspect nabbed in major joint operation

• Published: 14/03/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

Authorities have seized assets of an alleged key southern drug trafficker worth 35 million baht, following the discovery of 6.9 million baht in cash in a car involved in a road accident in Songkhla last week.
Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga, left, looks at cash seized from Zainudeng Ma, an alleged key drug trafficker, after a series of house searches following the arrest of the suspect last week. KOSOL NAKACHOL

The assets seizure began on Thursday when a combined security force raided the house of Zainudeng Ma in Hat Yai district of Songkhla after a police investigation found the 6.9 million baht cash belonged to him.

(click the link for the rest...quite a fortune!)

Bangkok Post : 1,583 arrests in Bangkok drug raids

1,583 arrests in Bangkok drug raids

• Published: 22/03/2011 at 01:37 PM
• Online news: Crimes

More than 1,500 drug suspects were arrested and more than 12,000 methamphetamine pills, along with crystal methamphetamine or ice, marijuana and cocaine seized in a week of raids in Bangkok.

Deputy Bangkok police chief Sumeth Ruangsawas said on Tuesday that Metropolitan Police Divisions 1-9 launched a series of raids in Bangkok between March 15-21.

A total of 1,583 drug suspects were arrested. Of these, 1,177 were charged with drug taking, 259 with possession of drugs and 141 with drug trafficking. Two major drug traffickers and four drug suspects wanted on arrest warrants had also been captured.

He said 12,575 methamphetamine pills, 13.9 grammes of crystal methamphetamine, widely known as ice, 42 packets of marijuana and 22 grammes of cocaine and two firearms and ammunition were confiscated during the raids.

"inside an iron pipe", well thats not going to attract attention getting on a plane, duh!! Maybe he was the one meant to be caught

Police claim major drug busts in Bangkok, Songkhla

Police claim major drug busts in Bangkok, Songkhla

By SUPARAT IAMTAN,
KESINEE TANGKHIO
THE NATION
Published on March 29, 2011

Police from Metropolitan Division 6 arrested two male suspects, allegedly with narcotic substances worth Bt14.5 million, in Bangkok's Lat Phrao district yesterday. On the same day, the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court brought down a verdict in another drug case involving three men accused of possessing 134,000 yaba tablets in Songkhla's Hat Yai district.

Metropolitan Police Division 6 Commander, Pol Maj-General Suwat Jangyodsuk, presented to a press conference Charoensak Saengduanchai, 24, and Thepparit Channarong, 27, whom police say were arrested on Sunday with one kilogram of "ice", 48,000 yaba tablets, 4,000 ecstasy tablets, a pistol , 22 rounds of ammunition, Bt150,000 in cash, one pick-up truck and three motorcycles.

Following a tip-off about drug dealing around Lat Phrao, police searched Charoensak and allegedly found 2,000 yaba tablets on him. This led to a search of his apartment room, the discovery of more drugs and the arrest of his roommate Thepparit.

The two reportedly confessed to having been hired for a year by a dealer named Pond to keep the drugs in the room and deliver them to customers in exchange for Bt100,000 per month each, Suwat said. They were charged with having type 1 narcotics in their possession with intention to sell, while Thepparit faced an additional charge of illegal possession of a gun and ammunition.

In the case of the three Songkhla drug suspects, the court yesterday sentenced the younger brother of southern drug lord Usman Salaemaeng, Akarat "Hamdam Salaemaeng" Theerananpasakorn, to a five-year sentence on grounds of concealing money transaction evidence, including an envelope of drugs with his name on it.

The other defendant, Rang Thurapol, was given four-months in prison and a Bt4,450 fine for having a gun in his possession. The case against another defendant, Puwanai Yosnui, was dismissed.

Bangkok Post : 1,632 drug arrests last week

1,632 drug arrests last week

• Published: 29/03/2011 at 04:02 PM
• Online news:

Metropolitan police arrested 1,632 suspects in drug offences over the past seven days, the Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy chief told a news conference on Tuesday.

Pol Maj-Gen Ueaphong Komarakun na Nakhon, said from March 22 to 28, police searched 211 communities and arrested 1,632 suspects. Most of them face drug abuse charges, while 131 were arrested for dealng including eight suspected key drug traffickers. Seven the eight were wanted under arrest warrants.

The city police also seized 67,312 methamphetamine tablets, 1.44 grammes of crystal meth, or ice, 21 packs of marijuana, 4kg of ecstasy, and valuables worth about 500,000 baht, said Pol Maj-Gen Ueaphong.

The Metropolitan Police crackdown on drug offenders is a part of the third phase of the government’s five-fence anti-drugs strategy, he said.

Bangkok Post : Prison drugdeals probed

Prison drugdeals probed

• Published: 2/04/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Corrections Department chief has admitted a number of inmates may have placed drug orders over mobile phones from Bang Kwang Central Prison.

Department chief Chartchai made his remark following the seizure of illicit drugs worth about 16 million baht from a Burmese suspect yesterday.

Police seized 2.8 kilogrammes of the liquid form of crystal methamphetamine, known as "ice", and another 2.7kg of other forms of ice, with a combined value of 16 million baht, from Vorapatchara Theppanya, 36.

The suspect, a Burmese national, allegedly confessed he had contacted an inmate at Bang Kwang Central Prison to buy the drugs from a Singaporean.

Mr Chartchai admitted the department has not yet installed devices to block mobile phone signals from Bang Kwang Central Prison and most other prisons due to budget constraints. Only Khaobin Central Prison in Ratchaburi province had such a device, he said

Deputy city police chief Amnuay Nimmano earlier criticised the department for failing to install mobile phone jamming devices at its prisons.

Mr Chartchai said it was possible some inmates might be using mobile phones to conduct drug deals.

Bang Kwang prison authorities have been told to investigate the possibility, he said.

Any inmates found to have been involved in deals would be immediately sent to Khaobin Central Prison, he said.

Justice Minister Pirapan Salirathavibhaga yesterday claimed success in the crackdown on drug dealing which ran from January to March this year, with 91,578 drug suspects arrested from 88,049 cases investigated, while 10 million speed pills and 245kg of heroin were seized.

Drugs seized in Fang

Drugs seized in Fang

By The Nation on Sunday
Published on April 10, 2011

Police and soldiers seized 390,000 'ya ba' tablets worth up to Bt80 million in Fang district on Friday.

However, the suspects escaped. Police said after they received reports that Muser hilltribe drug traffickers were transporting drugs from Mae Ai to Fang district, the combined force set up a checkpoint to arrest the traffickers.

Police said that of the five traffickers, two were in a pickup running ahead of another pickup, which carried the three others and the ya ba tablets. Those in the lead vehicle saw the checkpoint and phoned those in the second pickup, who fled on foot with some of the tablets.

Police said packages of drugs left behind would be examined for fingerprints. They said the drugs came from "a neighbouring country" and were destined for central Thailand.

http://www.tannetwork.tv/tan/ViewData.aspx?DataID=1042647



1 Killed in Drug Bust in Lop Buri Province

UPDATE : 11 April 2011

A drug dealer was killed and five accomplices were arrested during a police raid in central Lopburi Province.

Lopburi provincial police stated that they shot dead a methamphetamine dealer at his house during a drug bust, after the man opened fire on the police.


The deceased has been identified as 45-year-old Theeraphan Khonla-iad.

Five other accomplices were arrested and were found to be high on the drugs.

Police explained that they shot the man because he resisted arrest and continued firing at the officers.

The investigators added that the house was owned by a local police officer, who denied any involvement in the situation.

However, investigators say they have strong evidence proving that the policeman was linked to the drug ring.

Iranian arrested at Thai airport with 'ice' valued at Bt20 million

Iranian arrested at Thai airport with 'ice' valued at Bt20 million

วันจันทร์ ที่ 11 เม.ย. 2554

• • 

BANGKOK, April 11 - Thai police on Monday arrested an Iranian man at Suvarnabhumi Airport for smuggling 6.8 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, also known as 'ice,' worth Bt20 million (US$660,000).

The arrest of Mehdi Nikzad, 27, was a joint operation between Thailand' s Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Immigration Police and Special Branch Police.

Mr Mehdi, travelling from Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, confessed that he was hired by a fellow countryman to smuggle the crystal meth to a Malaysian agent, who was to pay the carrier once the work was completed.

Thirteen bags of the drug, with a total weight of 6.8 kg, were hidden variously in a laptop computer, an aerosol spray can and electrical appliances in order to evade checks by the authorities.

The arrest took place in the wake of close surveillance by the Thai police who have been monitoring Iranian, Nigerian and Pakistani drug smuggling syndicates after being informed they might use Thailand as a transit point before delivering the drugs to other Asian countries. (MCOT online news)

PM to hold urgent meetings with anti-drug officials

PM to hold urgent meetings with anti-drug officials

วันอาทิตย์ ที่ 17 เม.ย. 2554



BANGKOK, April 17 -- Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Sunday said he would call an urgent meeting with the national police chief and concerned agencies later this week on ways to suppress major drug dealers in the country following last week’s incident in which a man, believed to be under the influence of drugs, went berserk and killed two persons and wounding two others before he was gunned down.

Mr Abhisit said during his TV and radio address that he was saddened by last Thursday’s incidents and that concerned government agencies would assist families of victims who had lost their lives or were wounded, especially the family of a taxi driver who was shot dead by the gunman.

He was referring to the gunman identified as Thada Intamart who killed two persons -- a police officer and a taxi driver – and wounding two others, including a female doctor, during the shooting spree in the Thai capital.

Police later decided to shoot him dead while he was holding the doctor identified as Pipatra Sailohit hostage inside her car and driving towards the Victory Monument. Initial autopsy reports found substantial amounts of methamphetamine in Thada’s body.

Thursday’s violence showed that narcotics problems continue exist in the country despite harsh suppression in the past two years, Mr Abhisit said, adding that attempts are being made to crack down on major drug traffickers.

Mr Abhisit said he would call an urgent meeting with senior officers of concerned government agencies including the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, Royal Thai Police Bureau and Justice Ministry on ways to tackle the drug problem more efficiently.

Meanwhile, national police chief Pol Gen Wichean Potephosree said he would meet with the prime minister on Monday.

“From now on, every police station must try to arrest more major traffickers as well as help treat drug addicts. There are already several projects underway to help addicts,” Pol Gen Wicheann said.

He admitted that “several policemen are involved in drug trafficking” which the Royal Thai Police Bureau is investigating and drastic actions would be taken against these wrongdoing officers when caught. (MCOT online news)