Provincial Police Region 1 launched an operation to dismantle the “Tein Phi Nong Sadao” drug network, arresting three suspects who are relatives, and seizing over 2 million methamphetamine pills worth more than 100 million baht. The pills bore the “Banana 999” stamp, which officials identified as a symbol of a new drug batch from the Northeast, never before seized in the Provincial Police Region 1 area.
At 10:30 a.m. on 12 June 2026, in front of the Provincial Police Region office in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Mr. Chawanin Wongsatitjirakan, Governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, together with Pol. Maj. Gen. Surawut Saengrungruang, Commander of the Provincial Police of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, held a press conference announcing the arrest of a major drug trafficking network in the central region. They presented approximately 2,000,000 methamphetamine pills, vehicles, motorcycles, and mobile phones used for communication to the media.
The arrested suspects are Ms. Arunrat, nicknamed “Ter,” 38, Mr. Krisada, nicknamed “Kob,” 23, and Mr. Paweerkorn, nicknamed “Bass,” 19. All are from Nong Sadao subdistrict, Sam Chuk district, Suphanburi province. Investigations revealed they are relatives working together to receive, deliver, and transport drugs for the network.
This arrest followed an investigation by the Region 1 narcotics suppression team that expanded from a major drug trafficking network. They learned drugs would be transported into Samko district, Ang Thong province, before being forwarded to Suphanburi province. Authorities set up surveillance and closely monitored the area.
They spotted the target vehicle entering Nong Sadao subdistrict, Sam Chuk district, Suphanburi province, where the drugs were placed along a roadside in a secluded alley. The three suspects came to retrieve the drugs, prompting officers to reveal themselves and arrest them, confiscating all the methamphetamine pills as evidence.
Investigations found the suspects operated as “short-distance drug transport contractors,” receiving drugs at one point and immediately delivering them to another without storing or stocking drugs locally, minimizing the risk of detection or arrest.
However, an element that caught the attention of officials and the media was the discovery that some of the seized methamphetamine pills bore a “Banana 999” stamp on their packaging. This mark is a new symbol never before found in the jurisdiction of Provincial Police Region 1.
Authorities believe this symbol is a unique mark used by a new drug production or trafficking group from the Upper Northeastern region, serving as a brand to indicate the production source or distribution network—essentially a trademark for the drug operation. Investigations are ongoing to link this symbol to other drug cases in different areas.
Mr. Chawanin Wongsatitjirakan, Governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, said that while the exact meaning of the symbol is unconfirmed, it is believed to be a distinctive mark used by drug traffickers to communicate and build recognition within their network. He added that if traffickers thought the “banana” symbol would make drug transport as easy as peeling a banana, this case proves otherwise, as they still could not evade police tracking.
The Governor affirmed that security agencies will continue to pursue those ordering, participating in the network, and related financial routes. Authorities will use asset seizure measures and strictly apply the law to eradicate the drug network from the area.
Initially, the suspects were charged with jointly distributing a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine) and possessing it with intent to distribute, an act for commercial purposes. They were handed over to the Sam Chuk Police Station in Suphanburi province for legal proceedings, with efforts ongoing to track down accomplices and related networks.
At one point, reporters asked whether the suspects used the “Banana 999” symbol believing it might help them evade police detection. Mr. Chawanin Wongsatitjirakan, Governor of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, responded, “Not at all. There’s no ‘banana’ that would help in drug matters.”