Phra phutthabat: Region 1 Police seized a pickup truck carrying vegetables and ice belonging to a Hmong network, worth over 200 million baht. Provincial Police Region 1 intercepted a pickup truck carrying vegetables and ice, belonging to a Hmong network, worth nearly 200 million baht, before distributing it to the central region. The driver confessed to attempting the operation for the first time but was unsuccessful. Police are preparing to expand the investigation to pursue the network and prosecute them.
According to Thai News Agency, today, Police Lieutenant General Wattana Yijin, Commander of Provincial Police Region 1, and relevant officials jointly announced the results of the arrest of a suspect using a pickup truck with a reinforced cargo compartment to conceal vegetables and over 600 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, valued at nearly 200 million baht, in Phra Phutthabat District, Saraburi Province.
Following the investigation by officers from the Narcotics Suppression Center, Region 1 Provincial Police, in collaboration with the Narcotics Suppression Center, Region 5 Provincial Police, and the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), officers learned of a Hmong network smuggling ice in Chiang Rai province to the central region. A plan was developed to monitor the convoy. The suspects used three vehicles-one motorcycle and two cars-to scout the route, leading and ending the convoy before seizing it at a gas station in Phra Phutthabat District, Saraburi Province. Only the pickup truck carrying the ice was waiting for the convoy to pick it up and take it to a drug storage area. Officers identified themselves and requested a search and seizure. They discovered 34 sacks of ice hidden inside a vegetable truck, weighing over 675 kilograms. The driver, Mr. Natthakorn Chawmong, was taken into custody for questioning. Additionally, officers seized the lead vehicle, which had been abandoned by the suspects.
During the initial investigation, the suspect confessed that he was hired to smuggle ice for the first time, receiving only 8,000 baht for gas. However, the payment had not yet been agreed upon, as he had contacted several people through his network. Authorities therefore handed the suspect over to investigators for prosecution on charges of selling a Category 1 narcotic, crystal methamphetamine, with intent to sell. They will further investigate the drug storage area, the vehicles involved in the operation, and the network.