NONG BUA LAM PHU: Police have arrested five alleged members of a drug trafficking gang that continued to operate after the leader was arrested in June last year.
Narcotics suppression police detained five people and seized 200 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 200,000 meth pills found in their vehicle in Na Wang district of Nong Bua Lam Phu province on Wednesday night.
The two men and three women were travelling on Road 210 in tambon Na Lao. Their Mitsubishi Pajero was stopped and the drugs were found in the back, Pol Lt Gen Sarayut Sa-nguanphokhai, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), said on Thursday.
The male suspects were identified as Theerachai Sukkaew, 24, and Anawin Promlat, 24, and the women as Nilawan Chairat, 30, Sunisa Kaewprasert, 24, and Suthida Nochai, 27. All are from Phetchabun province.
Pol Lt Gen Sarayut said they were members of a gang headed by Watcharachai “Dave’’ Watcharakiart. He was based in Khon Kaen and was caught smuggling drugs into Thailand across the Mekong River into Nong Khai province in June last year.
Although Mr Watcharachai was caught, his gang continued to operate, Pol Lt Gen Sarayut said. Police had closely monitored their activities, which led to the five arrests on Wednesday night.
During questioning, the suspects allegedly admitted they were being paid to deliver the drugs found in their vehicle to an agent in the Central Plains.
They were charged with colluding in having illicit drugs in possession with intent to sell and then handed over to NSB sub-division 2 for legal proceedings.
