Krabi police expanded their investigation to arrest “Je Ying Wang Maprang,” a major methamphetamine agent who served 12 years for drug offenses. Released less than a year ago, she returned to her old ways, confessing that during her imprisonment she connected with a network and upon release began receiving methamphetamine directly from a factory near the Chiang Rai border.
On 13 May 2026 in Krabi province, reporters reported that investigative officers from Ao Nang Police Station, together with the Krabi Provincial Police investigation unit, raided and arrested “Je Ying Wang Maprang,” a major methamphetamine agent, along with one male suspect at a prominent shopping mall parking lot in Krabi Yai Subdistrict, Mueang Krabi District. They were caught delivering 2,000 methamphetamine pills to an undercover agent in a prearranged meeting. This arrest stemmed from expanding an investigation after a small dealer was caught in Ao Nang Subdistrict with only 2 pills.
The arrest began on the afternoon of 12 May when Deputy Superintendent Wichaya Thongkhong, deputy head of investigations at Ao Nang Police Station, led a team to arrest Mr. Sawat Boonrit, 60, a small dealer at his home in Village 1, Ao Nang Subdistrict, Mueang Krabi District, with 2 methamphetamine pills. He confessed to selling the drugs to local youth. Police expanded the investigation, arresting two more suspects, Ms. Prathum Laosen, 57, and Mr. Wuttipong Boonrit, 26, at a rented house in Village 5, Sai Thai Subdistrict, Mueang Krabi District, with 1,071 methamphetamine pills hidden inside. Both admitted receiving the drugs from a female agent from Trang Province. Police then planned to expand the investigation further.
In the early morning of 13 May, Police Major General Sukasem Nakornwilai, Commander of Krabi Provincial Police, ordered Deputy Superintendent Wichaya Thongkhong to lead the Ao Nang Police investigative team, in cooperation with Krabi Provincial Police investigators, to stake out and arrest the two suspects at the shopping mall parking lot.
Later, Ms. Phatphorn or Ying Saengsrichan, 55, and Mr. Chalermphong Wongprasert, 39, both from Wang Maprang Subdistrict, Wang Wiset District, Trang Province, arrived in a black Nissan pickup truck, license plate BY 4348 Trang, to meet the undercover agent as scheduled. Officers then revealed themselves and searched the vehicle, finding one package containing 2,000 methamphetamine pills hidden between the front seats. Both were taken for questioning and charged with jointly distributing and possessing for distribution Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine).
Upon checking records, Ms. Phatphorn or Ying was found to have served 12 years in prison for drug offenses and had been released less than a year ago. She returned to drug trafficking, confessing to police that while imprisoned she got to know drug networks also incarcerated. After release, she worked for these networks, receiving methamphetamine directly from a factory near the Chiang Rai border. She distributed the drugs to customers in nearby provinces including Trang, Krabi, and Satun as instructed by the network, usually accepting small orders at a time. Mr. Chalermphong served as the driver delivering the drugs. Police detained both for prosecution according to the law.