Chai Nat City Police noticed a man from Trang Province driving into a checkpoint on the Asian Highway acting suspiciously. They requested to search the vehicle and found methamphetamine pills hidden inside a crate of honey tangerines that had begun to rot, used to mask the odor and avoid detection. Upon thorough inspection, 530,000 methamphetamine pills were discovered.
At 15:30 on 16 Jan 2026 GMT+7, Mr. Phumiwat Udomsap, Governor of Chai Nat Province, Police Major General Sompol Wongsrisuntorn, Commander of Chai Nat Provincial Police, and Police Colonel Surat Paothong, Chief of Chai Nat City Police Station, together with forensic officers, announced the arrest of Mr. Sattawat Damsuk, 31, from Trang Province, along with 530,000 methamphetamine pills. The drugs were hidden inside a white six-wheeler box truck, license plate 83-4430 Pathum Thani, intercepted at a checkpoint on the Asian Highway (southbound) at km 130, Suea Hok Subdistrict, Mueang Chai Nat District.
Police Colonel Surat Paothong, Chief of Chai Nat City Police Station, revealed that at about 12:00, officers noticed suspicious behavior because the driver used a fake driving license and the vehicle was overdue on its annual tax. Checking the driver's record showed that Mr. Sattawat had prior drug trafficking cases at Ratsada Police Station in Trang Province in 2024 and forestry law violations. Also, the enclosed box truck was unusual for transporting fruit. Officers conducted a detailed search and initially found 30,000 methamphetamine pills concealed alongside crates of honey tangerines that had started to rot, masking the smell and sight. Further inspection at Chai Nat City Police Station uncovered an additional 50 bundles, totaling 500,000 pills, hidden in a specially sealed compartment behind the driver's seat.
During extended questioning, Mr. Sattawat confessed he was transporting the drugs from Phayao Province, heading to Talat Thai Market in Pathum Thani Province. He said he was paid only 4,000 baht and claimed to have done this twice before.
Authorities charged him with "illegal possession and distribution of a Category 1 narcotic methamphetamine," an offense causing widespread public harm and threatening state security. He was handed over for legal prosecution, and investigations are ongoing to uncover the drug network involved.