NARATHIWAT: Authorities in southern Thailand have smashed two major drug trafficking networks and confiscated almost 684,000 horse pills or amphetamine worth 83 million bahts (RM10 million) believed to be heading for the Malaysian market.
The horse pills were seized after police raided the house of a man, Pauzi Saleh, 52, at Munok, Sungai Golok in Narathiwat, said Munok police chief Colonel Prayuth Pongsanti.
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In a press conference, Prayuth said police found 114 packets, each containing 6,000 horse pills hidden in a car ready to be smuggled to Malaysia. On questioning, the suspect admitted the pills belonged to his younger brother, Samran Baka, 42. Police raided Samran’s house nearby and recovered 4,000 more horse pills but Samran had escaped to Malaysia with a car left at an illegal route in Munok.
Meanwhile Thai Army 4th division commander Lt Gen Viwat Pratompark, at another press conference, said police were investigating if the drug trafficking syndicate was involved with another cough syrup network which was crippled in Pattani.
The investigation will determine the drug trafficker who masterminded the smuggling of cough medicine and to arrest him. In the Pattani case, police yesterday announced the seizure of 60,000 bottles of cough syrup believed to be owned by a local politician.
Southern Thailand Border police chief Lt Gen Chalermpan Ajalabun said police detained Anuchai Chelae, 44, a secretary at the subdistrict council in Yaring. A concoction of cough syrup, carbonated drink and ketum is popular among youths in southern Thailand.
Chalermpan said a lorry was also seized after intelligence found the lorry was carrying cough syrup from Phatumthani province to an agent in the area before handing the car over to police.
