Northern drug couriers arrested with 200,000 amphetamines

BANGKOK, March 2 (TNA) – Thai police arrested three members of a major drug trafficking gang in Thailand’s north Tuesday, confiscating 200,000 amphetamine tablets, two vehicles and Bt2 million cash used in an attempted bribery to secure their release from arrest.

An Akha ethnic man Arwu Biewtu, and two Thais, Thanadol Wuesaku from a Huaychompu subdistrct local government agency in Chiang Rai's provincial seat, and Kritsana Saengchankum were detained in the incident, Pol Lt-Gen Atitep Panjamanond, Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s commander in chief, told a press conference.

The first two men were arrested at a checkpoint in Nakhon Sawan's Phayuha Khiri district, while Mr Arwu and Mr Thanadol were carrying and driving with the amphetamines hidden in the stereo’s loud speakers to pass on the tablets to Mr Kritsana at a gas station in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district, where police also arrested the last suspect.

Gen Atitep said during the arrest, Mr Kritsana attempted to bribe the police officers with Bt2 million in cash in exchange for their freedom.

Mr Kritsana said his friend would leave a car which carries the money at a temple in Bangkok. Police went to the meeting point and seized the car and
the money, but Mr Kritsana’s associate disappeared.

Mr Thanadol, one of the suspects, admitted he was hired for the first time to carry the speed pills with a Bt-300,000 wage, while Mr Kritsana confessed all the drugs were received from an agent in the Chiang Rai in order to pass on to customers in Ayutthaya.

Police said they believed the men are from a major drug smuggling network in Chiang Rai. (TNA)