Police bust major meth shipment headed to southern border provinces of Thailand
Police seized 500 kilogrammes (1,102 lbs) of crystal meth as they blocked an alleged major drug shipment headed to southern Thailand.
Officers launched the sting after undercover agents infiltrated a suspected network smuggling drugs to southern border provinces.
Investigators said the gang moved narcotics from northern Thailand to buyers in the deep south under orders from the ringleader, identified only as Jirawat or 'Mr K'.
Following instructions from the suspected drug boss, an undercover officer parked a pickup truck near a shopping mall in the Ram Inthra subdistrict on May 18.
A motorcyclist later collected the vehicle and drove it to a house in Bangkok's Bang Chan area, where police swooped in while three suspects were loading sacks of meth into the truck.
Mobile phones, tablet devices, a vehicle, and 500 kilos of crystal meth were seized.
Pokpaphop Badipitak, deputy commissioner of the Border Patrol Police, said three suspects, identified as Khunaphat, 27, Cherdsak, 44, and Cherdsak's wife, Atthaya, 49, were arrested and charged with 'jointly possessing and trafficking Category 1 narcotics illegally'.
He added: 'The Border Patrol Police are currently expanding the investigation into this network to apprehend the mastermind and all remaining members.'
Thailand has become a notorious hub for drug production and trafficking. In the north of the country, the ‘Golden Triangle' area shares borders with Laos and Myanmar, and has produced large amounts of opium since the 1950s but focus in recent years has shifted to the more profitable methamphetamine.
Officials believe most of the meth is produced in the Shan State of Myanmar before being distributed through neighbouring countries where prices are higher before ending up in the most expensive markets of Australia, Japan, Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Singapore.
However, cracking down on drug production has been complicated by the influx of crime gangs from China and the Burmese civil war, which has seen the army take over the country - along with control of lucrative drugs chains.
