The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has seized a 21-million-baht house in Bangkok from a suspected international drug trafficker, following the discovery of nearly a tonne of crystal methamphetamine destined for Taiwan in August.
The house is on one-rai of land at a luxury housing estate in Saphan Sung district. The property was seized on Friday morning day.
Wichai Chaimongkhol, secretary-general of the ONCB who led the operation, said it belonged to Somprat Sae Ung, 53, who was a fugitive, wanted for colluding in illicit drug trafficking and money laundering. The house, which was empty, was bought by Mr Somprat for 21 million baht.
The property's seizure followed the discovery of 945 kilogrammes of crystal meth hidden in silicon sheets at Bangkok Port on Aug 15. The shipment was destined for Taiwan.
That led to the arrest of a man and woman, Somchart Saweechotsakul and Pornthipha Wongjinda, with another 76 kilogrammes of crystal meth found at a warehouse in Lat Lum Kaew district and a rented house in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani, Mr Wichai said. Mr Somchart ran an export-import firm.
Investigators allege Mr Somprat had hired the two suspects to smuggle the drugs. They found evidence of money transactions and obtained a court warrant for the arrest of Mr Somprat, who was believed to have fled to a neigbhouring country, the ONCB secretary-general said.
