Bangkok: The ONCB has announced the arrest of a renowned singer from the 1990s as part of a broader crackdown on a significant drug network. The operation revealed that the singer had ordered drugs and arranged for their pickup, leading officers to execute a successful sting operation. Intriguingly, authorities discovered that gold leaf was mixed into the drugs, specifically methamphetamine, to enhance their market value. A subsequent investigation of a LINE group chat exposed the involvement of multiple entertainers in the drug network.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the ONCB, and Mr. Prin Mekhanan, Director of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, jointly disclosed the arrests of two prominent international drug operations. The first case unfolded after Chinese authorities detained two Thai nationals at Nanjing Airport on July 22, 2024, for carrying 53 grams of crystal methamphetamine. This arrest led to an arrest warrant for a 43-year-old Thai woman accused of orchestrating drug shipments from Thailand to China.
Following a tip-off from the NNCC through Beijing’s local government, ONCB officials apprehended the female suspect and an accomplice in a Bangkok condominium on March 13th. Evidence found included methamphetamine, ecstasy, and other drugs, stashed in a cosmetic box ready for distribution. The suspects allegedly sold drugs via a LINE group, delivering them or arranging pickups at the condominium. Consequently, they faced charges for possession with intent to sell Category 1 drugs.
During the arrest, a male customer, part of the LINE group, attempted to purchase 2 grams of methamphetamine, leading to his capture. Initially unrecognized, the customer was identified as a singer from a famous 90s pop-rock band. Despite his altered appearance, he was found to be a regular drug user but not a dealer, resulting in charges for possession of Category 1 drugs.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Panurat further revealed that the suspects enhanced the drugs’ value by mixing them with gold leaf, creating what is known in the industry as ‘gold powder’ or ‘pink gold powder.’ The LINE group reportedly included hundreds of patrons, spanning artists, celebrities, and high-society individuals. While further investigation into the identities of these figures is underway, details remain undisclosed. Authorities also plan to trace the financial activities of the suspects to uncover additional connections.
In a separate case, the Anti-Narcotics Police Department of Vietnam arrested seven Vietnamese suspects on March 7, 2024, with substantial quantities of ketamine and other substances. Following this, an arrest warrant was issued for Mr. NGO NHAT ANH, a Vietnamese national linked to the operation, who fled to Thailand. The ONCB, in collaboration with Immigration officers, successfully apprehended him and three associates, seizing drugs, firearms, and assets worth 4.2 million baht.
