Methamphetamine Drug Runner Busted in Northeastern Thailand

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 06:51 am

Police in Northeastern Thailand have seized more than 600,000 methamphetamine pills from an alleged drug runner making deliveries. A man seen tossing a plastic bag from his car was later stopped and searched. More  more than 600,000 methamphetamine pills were found in more bags inside the vehicle.

Mr. Somphan Sri-ubon, 43, was detained after police stopped his car at an intersection in Kantharawichai district in Maha Sarakham on Monday.  Pol Maj Gen Somchai Numtor, deputy commissioner of Provincial Police told reporters on Tuesday. The arrest came after police investigators learned that drugs were being delivered regularly along the Kalamasai-Kalasin road in the province. Police teams were assigned to patrol the route, Pol Maj Gen Somchai said. One team spotted the driver of a Mitsubishi slowing down about 10 km from downtown Muang district of Kalasin. The driver then threw a black plastic bag into bushes on the roadside, and drove away.

The bag was found to contain 2,000 meth pills. The officers alerted another team to intercept the vehicle. Upon intercepting his vehicle police discovered several fertiliser bags containing a large amount of methamphetamine. A total of 610,000 meth pills, including the 2,000 found on the roadside in Kalasin, were seized. The seized methamphetamine was worth about 18 million baht, he said. Upon interrogation, Mr Somphan allegedly admitted he had collected the drugs at Wat Phum Manorom about 6.30am. He was to deliver the methamphetamine to four locations; Roi Et, Kalasin, Maha Sarakham and Khon Kaen provinces. According to Mr Somphan a Lao drug trader had offered him 140,000 baht for the job. Furthermore he was to get the money after completing the deliveries. The regional methamphetamine epidemic has worsened in Thailand as it now costs as little as 40 baht to buy a ya ba pill. That’s down from 200-300 baht a few years ago,