National—
At 11:00 AM, on November 24th, 2023, Pol. Gen. Kittirat Phanphet, the Deputy Commissioner of the Royal Thai Police, and relevant officials held a press conference on major arrests involving an illegal narcotic North and East network with over 13 million amphetamine pills and 100 kilograms of methamphetamine seized.
The operation was conducted per orders from Mr. Srettha Thavisin, the Thai Prime Minister, who emphasized the complete eradication of illegal narcotic substances in Thailand.
According to the report on the first case from Thai narcotics suppression officers, on November 14th, 2023, it was reported by an anonymous source that there was drug smuggling happening involving stashing an illicit substance inside a pile of cucumbers.
It was reported that two pickup trucks from Chiang Mai were heading to Chumphon: One for surveillance/As a dummy vehicle and another carrying amphetamine.
The police officers then tracked down the suspected vehicles and asked for an inspection. As a result, three alleged suspects who were publicly identified only as Mr. Tripop, Mr. Somchai, and a minor, whose name was withheld, were found with 13 million amphetamine pills stashed inside a pile of cucumbers.
According to the report on a second case from Thai narcotics suppression officers, on November 19th, 2023, it was reported via an anonymous tip that a narcotics network would transport illicit substances from the border of Thailand in Nakhon Phanom to Central Thailand via a sedan.
The police officers then tracked down the suspected sedan and asked for an inspection. The driver of the sedan was later identified only as Mr. Jakkrit who was found with 100 kilograms of methamphetamine stashed inside the car trunk.
Initially, the police officers pressed charges against Jakkrit for drug offenses and took hold of him for further legal process.
However, Thai narcotics suppression officers pledged to further investigate to hold involved individuals accountable for their crimes.
