National—
On May 24th, 2024, Thai police and relevant agencies held a press conference announcing a raid on the drug smuggling network “Mai Logistics,” operated by a former police officer in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai. The operation resulted in the seizure of assets worth over 2 billion baht.
According to the Thai police, Pathum Thani officers arrested eight individuals who allegedly smuggled 300 kilograms of ketamine into Lam Luk Ka, Pathum Thani, using a private parcel delivery company. However, the authorities managed to confiscate only 46 kilograms, as the suspects had evidently distributed most of the ketamine to local drug dealers within an hour on March 15th, 2023.
On March 25th, 2023, the police intensified their investigation and discovered another 300 kilograms of ketamine concealed inside 15 parcels at a private delivery company in Pathum Thani. Subsequently, on March 28th, they arrested three more suspects in Phitsanulok, seizing four million amphetamine pills.
One of the suspects, identified as 2nd Lt. Mai, a former police officer, was found to be involved in smuggling illicit substances via the delivery system and was apprehended in July 2023.
The investigation expanded from May 1st to May 21st, 2024, uncovering additional individuals involved across eight provinces in Thailand. It was revealed that the “Mai Logistics” network engaged in money laundering by operating an electrical shop as a front. Consequently, the police seized assets valued at 2.03 billion baht, including lands, buildings, vehicles, firearms, and other properties.
Thai Authorities are also investigating whether the private delivery company was complicit in the crimes. Reports indicate that the illicit substances were transported through the Thai border to be distributed across central Thailand.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.