Bangkok: A married couple has been arrested in connection with the transportation of over 200,000 methamphetamine pills, following an extensive investigation by the Crime Suppression Division and Highway Police. The couple, identified as Mr. Somchai, 48, and Ms. Chanakan, 50, were detained while transporting the narcotics to Bangkok.
According to Thai News Agency, the arrest was made after the police intercepted the couple's black Daihatsu sedan, which bore Chiang Mai license plates, along Highway 32 in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. The operation, supported by multiple police units, revealed that the vehicle's rear door panels concealed approximately 100,000 methamphetamine tablets.
Further investigation led the authorities to the couple's rented residence in Lampang Province, where an additional 100,000 pills were discovered. The search of the premises, conducted with the suspects' consent, also uncovered various packaging materials and mobile phones linked to the operation.
Authorities revealed that the suspects confessed to working for a high-ranking drug boss, smuggling narcotics from Chiang Rai Province to Bangkok. The investigation implicated Mr. Somchai in the transportation of drugs to two other individuals, Mr. Pathawi and Mr. Atichat, who were also arrested in a related operation.
The police have seized multiple items as evidence, including mobile phones, a bank passbook, and various packaging materials. The couple faces charges of jointly selling Category 1 narcotics for commercial purposes, impacting public safety and national security.
The suspects were taken to the Asian Highway Service Unit for further questioning, where they confessed to the charges. The case has been handed over to Division 5, Crime Suppression Division, for continued investigation into the drug network.
The authorities are committed to dismantling the network and have ordered further investigations to apprehend other individuals involved. The case highlights ongoing efforts to combat drug trafficking in the region, with a focus on intercepting narcotics before they reach urban centers like Bangkok.