Thai police arrest four traffickers and seize two tonnes of ’ice’ hidden in a pick-up, ready to be shipped by ferry to the tourist island of Koh Samui.
On 10 April, Police General Samran Nuamah, deputy to the commander-in-chief of the Royal Thai Police and director of the anti-drug operations centre, held a press conference alongside Lieutenant-General Krisda Kanjanalongkorn and Lieutenant-General Archayarn Kraithong, commander of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB). They announced the dismantling of a drug trafficking network based in Prachinburi, with the arrest of four suspects and the seizure of 2,000 kilos of crystal methamphetamine, known as “ice”, along with two vehicles.
The investigation dates back to last year, conducted by Division 2 of the ONCB in collaboration with anti-drug intelligence, army special forces and the US DEA. It targeted a network controlled from Myanmar and Laos, using young local “drivers” in Prachinburi to transport the drugs from the Isan regions to the interior of the country. Nine cases have already been closed, with more than 15.5 million ecstasy pills and 2,300 kilos of ’ice’ seized.
Investigations intensified in March, revealing a new tactic: receiving the drugs in central provinces such as Lopburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachinburi, Ayutthaya or Saraburi, then transporting by convoy south via ferry. On 9 April, during heightened surveillance for the Songkran festival, the forces tracked a lead van from Samut Prakan and a closed pick-up from Prachinburi.
The suspects were heading for the Rat Burana ferry terminal in Bangkok to board for Koh Samui, in Surat Thani province. Successful interception one kilometre from the pier: two tonnes of ’ice’ in the pick-up, and arrest of the other two suspects in Praek Sa, Samut Prakan.
« The modus operandi of this trafficking network uses a convoy to avoid road checks, exploiting ferries from major companies. The final destination is still under verification, but the drugs were to be stored in the south before partial export and local distribution », said Police General Samran Nuamah.
For Songkran, the authorities multiplied joint operations to counter festive smuggling attempts. Lieutenant-General Archayarn added:
« This network has already used the ferries several times. We are checking the histories with the shipping companies, expanding the investigation to the masterminds and accomplices, including the big shots in the trade. »