Region 4 investigative police apprehended a Laotian drug trafficking network while transporting over one million methamphetamine pills to customers for sale during the Songkran festival, along with 24.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine and assets seized worth 6,650,000 baht.
At 15:30 on 11 April 2026 at the Operations Center of the Region 4 Police Investigation Division, Pol. Lt. Gen. Santi Chainiramai, Commander of Region 4 Police, together with Pol. Col. Pongrit Kongsirisombat, Deputy Chief of Investigation Division Region 4; Pol. Col. Nuti Saksupap, Investigation Chief 2, Region 4; and Pol. Col. Weera Hangnak, Investigation Chief of Roi Et Province Police, held a press conference announcing the arrest of Apiphu or Nat, 34; Chinkorn or Mark, 28; and Yasintorn or Benz, 29, with evidence including 1,125,591 methamphetamine pills, 24.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine, one pistol, and 10 rounds of 9mm ammunition.
Prior to the arrests, an informant notified Region 4 police that a Laotian network led by 'Sia O' was smuggling methamphetamine from Nong Khai Province to Roi Et Province. Officers ordered the Roi Et Police Investigation Division to investigate, confirming the information but noting that the target had shifted as 'Sia O' changed the drug storage location from Roi Et to Tha Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen Province.
Authorities then instructed Investigation Division 2, Region 4, to monitor suspects or those previously convicted of drug offenses. Eventually, an informant reported being contacted by Nat, saying "Sia O instructed to deliver over one million methamphetamine pills to the network in Roi Et." The informant declined the task, leading police to believe Nat assigned someone in his network to do the job. Officers deployed forces at likely points of drug transport from Tha Phra to Roi Et.
At midnight on 10 April, police spotted a white Toyota pickup truck with Khon Kaen license plates driving on the road from Tha Phra to Kosum Phisai District, Maha Sarakham Province, near Ban Nong Khoi, Tha Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen. The truck bed contained blue fertilizer sacks. Police stopped the vehicle and found Benz and Chinkorn inside, with the sacks containing 540,000 methamphetamine pills. Both were detained for further investigation.
The two suspects implicated Nat as having hired them to transport the drugs to the network in Roi Et under 'Sia O's' orders. Police examined their phones and confirmed contact with Nat. Officers then located Nat at his home in Tha Phra, Mueang District, Khon Kaen. Upon arrest, his phone revealed communications with 'Sia O,' the informant, and the two suspects.
During questioning, Nat admitted previous imprisonment for drug offenses and acquaintance with 'Sia O's' network. After release and lacking employment, Nat contacted 'Sia O' and became a coordinator between him and drug couriers in Thailand. The network smuggled methamphetamine from Laos into Thailand, storing it at various points nationwide, hiring couriers to collect and deliver the drugs to customers.
Recently, 'Sia O' imported over one million methamphetamine pills into Thailand, paying 700 baht for each bundle of 2,000 pills. Benz and Mark acted as couriers to collect and distribute the drugs under 'Sia O's' orders, each earning 200 baht per delivery, while Nat received 300 baht.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Santi added that Nat coordinated the deliveries and received payment shares of 300 baht per 2,000-pill bundle, executing orders from 'Sia O.'
Following the arrests of Mark and Benz, who handled drug storage, police were led to recover methamphetamine and crystal methamphetamine buried on private land in Ban Nong Niyom, Tha Phra Subdistrict, Mueang District, Khon Kaen. The total drugs seized from the three suspects included 1,125,591 methamphetamine pills and 24.9 grams of crystal methamphetamine. Authorities believe these were intended for sale during the Songkran holiday, with the crystal meth likely a bonus for bulk buyers.
Police seized Nat's assets, including two land titles, one house valued at 3.5 million baht, a 3-baht gold necklace worth 400,000 baht, one Kawasaki motorcycle valued at 150,000 baht, one white Toyota Fortuner SUV worth 3.5 million baht, one white Honda City sedan worth 500,000 baht, one blonde Ford sedan worth 400,000 baht, and 200,000 baht in cash. Total seized assets amounted to 6.65 million baht. Nat was charged with conspiring to distribute a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) without authorization for commercial purposes, causing widespread public distribution and impacting state security and public safety, as well as illegal possession of firearms and ammunition.
Chinkorn or Mark, 28, was charged with conspiracy to distribute Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) without authorization for commercial purposes, causing widespread public distribution and impacting state security and public safety. He was also charged with driving under the influence of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) and illegal drug use.
Yasintorn or Benz, 29, was charged with conspiracy to distribute Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) without authorization for commercial purposes, causing widespread public distribution and impacting state security and public safety, as well as illegal use of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine).