Police arrest 16 suspects in cross-border drug network with 514kg of meth and 1m Yaba pills seized
Police arrested 16 suspects with 514 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and one million Yaba pills in a crackdown on a cross-border drug trafficking network in Thailand.
The Crime Suppression Division stormed 16 high-risk locations from September 4 to 11, in a crackdown dubbed 'Blacklist Hunt'.
Officers searched the targeted properties, including condo rooms and rural houses, and arrested 16 suspects allegedly involved in moving drugs across the country and through the border.
Authorities said they seized 514kg of crystal meth, more than one million methamphetamine pills, three firearms and four vehicles, with assets worth more than 120 million baht also confiscated.
Among those arrested was Jakkrit, known as ‘Tom Kranuan', the alleged right-hand man of drug kingpin ‘Pao Kranuan', who was previously involved in a gunfight with police.
Jakkrit faces charges including attempted murder, the alleged murder of a law enforcement officer, resisting arrest and illegal possession of firearms and narcotics.
Investigators also tracked suspects into Myanmar, where they arrested Boy and Kullaporn, who were ranked 32nd and 33rd on Thailand's national wanted list. Both were allegedly involved in moving more than 300kg of crystal methamphetamine, and allegedly carried 400,000-baht bounties.
Cops detained Wichuphan, accused of leading a network trafficking more than one million Yaba pills in Bueng Kan.
They also captured Niwat, who was found with 472 pounds (214 kilogrammes) of crystal methamphetamine.
The crackdown was expanded across northeastern Thailand, resulting in 11 further arrests linked to local distribution networks, including an alleged online crystal meth operation in Khon Kaen.
Authorities said the operation was aimed at dismantling the drug network, including suspects who fled across the border.
Police Major General Pattanasak Bubphasuwan, commander of the Crime Suppression Division, said: ‘The launch of Operation 'Blacklist Hunt' serves as a warning from the Central Investigation Bureau that no matter where suspects attempt to hide or flee across borders, an investigation team will hunt them down and bring them to face the full punishment of the law for the safety of society and the public.'
Thailand has become a notorious hub for drug use, production, and trafficking. In the north of the country, the ‘Golden Triangle' area shares borders with Laos and Myanmar, and has produced large amounts of opium since the 1950s but focus in recent years has shifted to the more profitable methamphetamine.
Officials believe most of the meth is produced in the Shan State of Myanmar before being distributed through neighbouring countries where prices are higher before ending up in the most expensive markets of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
However, cracking down on drug production has been complicated by the influx of crime gangs from China and the Burmese civil war, which has seen the army take over the country - along with control of lucrative drugs chains.
