Pu Kaeng:Police at the Pu Kaeng checkpoint arrested a married couple from Nong Khai for smuggling 350 kg of crystal methamphetamine through a hidden compartment in their truck. The couple admitted they had been hired to transport the drugs, marking the fourth time they had undertaken such a task for a payment of 300,000 baht per trip.
According to Thai News Agency, the arrest occurred at approximately 1000 AM on October 11, 2026, under the direction of Pol. Maj. Gen. Songkrit Ontakrai from the Chiang Rai Provincial Police. The operation was conducted by officers from Phan Police Station, including Pol. Col. Wichai Chai-inkham and Pol. Lt. Col. Athiwat Innanachai, with Pol. Lt. Col. Suraphat Thampanya leading the checkpoint operation.
Authorities received intelligence about narcotics being smuggled from the border into the country's interior using trucks. They set up strict checkpoints at Pu Kaeng, located on Moo 4, Phaholyothin Road in Chiang Rai Province. The targeted truck, a white Hino with a Bangkok license plate, was loaded with bottled water. Upon inspection, officers discovered a modified truck bed with a hidden compartment containing 350 green plastic tea bags of crystal meth.
Mr. Worawut, one of the suspects, confessed to meeting a hill tribe man in July who hired him to transport the drugs to Samut Prakan Province. This attempt marked his fourth drug smuggling operation, but police intercepted the delivery this time.
Both suspects underwent urine drug testing at Phan Hospital, which returned negative results. They faced charges of possessing and selling a Category 1 narcotic for commercial purposes. The couple was detained for legal proceedings, while authorities continue to investigate and dismantle the drug network.