Thai police foil major attempt to smuggle drugs into M'sia

BANGKOK: A major attempt to smuggle 400 kg of "Ice" (crystal methaphetamine) and 77kg of heroin worth billions of baht to Malaysia was foiled by the country's Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB).
Six suspects, including a woman, were arrested in separate operations in Hatyai, Chumpon and Nakhon Si Thammarat last Thursday and Friday.
"NSB believed the drugs are destined for Malaysia," said NSB's Lt Gen Sommai Kongvisaisuk told the media here today, adding that a lorry transporting the drugs was intercepted at a petrol station in Kuanlong sub district, Hatyai.
Upon closer inspection, NSB officers found the drugs hidden under PVC pipes the lorry was carrying, with the driver being detained for further interrogation.
Another three suspects whom the authorities believed acted as the syndicate's "reconnaisance party" were picked up in Thungsong district, Chumpon, while another two suspects were nabbed in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
All suspects, aged between 27 and 53 years of age, have been detained to facilitate further questioning.
Meanwhile, NSB southern provinces commander Maj Gen Kitti Sapaothong said the lorry was heading to Takbai in Narathiwat province, southern Thailand.
Takbai is located near the Thai-Malaysian border.
"NSB Investigations revealed the suspects had transported drugs to Takbai several times before this," he said, NSB officers began tracking the lorry after receiving intelligence information about its presence.
After an exhaustive search, they finally found the lorry in Hatyai at about 9pm last Thursday, said Sapaothong.
The NSB also also announced during today's media conference that its officers seized nearly 10 million "Yaba" tablets and 700kg Ganja in two separate operations in Pathum Thani and Udon Thani on 22 July, as well 11 July.
From 11 until 22 July, NSB confiscated various types of drugs worth approximately 450 billion baht (about RM56 million). — Bernama