Metropolitan Police Division 1 relentlessly pursued and expanded their investigation on a pilot group for five months, raiding to seize a massive batch of ice drugs before it entered central Bangkok.
On 16 Mar 2023, Metropolitan Police Division 1 of the Metropolitan Police Bureau monitored a major drug network that smuggled and concealed drugs in a safe house in Lopburi province. They found nearly 2 million methamphetamine pills and arrested two suspects. The investigation expanded immediately, arresting two more suspects and seizing over 2.4 million more pills, totaling more than 4.29 million pills.
Following Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul's directive, National Police Chief Pol Gen Kittirat Panpetch was ordered to block and dismantle drug trafficking networks. Pol Gen Samran Nuanma, Deputy National Police Chief and Director of the Police Narcotics Suppression Center, instructed all narcotics centers nationwide to intensively investigate and trace drug trafficking networks.
Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police Bureau, accelerated these policies and ordered Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thammasuthi, Deputy Commissioner responsible for narcotics, to expand investigations on previously arrested networks to track individuals still trafficking drugs.
Pol Maj Gen Worachak Phisitbanakorn, Commander of Metropolitan Police Division 1, along with Pol Col Sakya Saengwan, Deputy Commander of Division 1, ordered Pol Col Wichai Sonsakul, Chief of Investigation Division 1, and Pol Lt Attapong Nokkhunthong, Chief of another Investigation Unit, plus their teams to pursue and eliminate these networks from society as soon as possible.
By 3 Aug 2023, the narcotics unit of Metropolitan Police Division 1, persistently monitoring, found credible evidence of ongoing drug trafficking into inner Bangkok. After more than five months of tailing and investigation, they learned of a large shipment through a private delivery company from Sakon Nakhon province, with the network arranging lead and transport vehicles to pick up the drugs in Bangkok, hoping to deceive authorities.
On 4 Aug 2023 at about 15:15, the narcotics unit led by Pol Col Wichai Sonsakul planned and positioned forces at locations where the suspects were expected to collect parcels containing drugs. Following tactical procedures, they aimed to arrest all involved safely and seize the evidence without endangering nearby civilians.
They charged the suspects and successfully arrested four individuals with the following roles:
1. Mr. Worachai (nickname: Gl), 30 years old, served as the pickup truck driver.
2. Mr. Thanakorn (nickname: Yai), 26 years old, rode along in the pickup truck.
3. Mr. Wasan (nickname: Champ), 27 years old, drove the sedan (lead vehicle).
4. Ms. Wasana (nickname: Nan), 25 years old, rode in the sedan (lead vehicle).
Several items were seized as evidence as follows:
1. Approximately eight boxes of Type 1 methamphetamine (ice).
2. A white Isuzu pickup truck registered in Bangkok.
3. A black Honda sedan registered in Bangkok.
The investigation team of Metropolitan Police Division 1 took all suspects for further interrogation at their division and will transfer them along with the evidence to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for prosecution.
Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thammasuthi, Deputy Commissioner responsible for narcotics, said this arrest was the result of the investigative team’s persistent follow-up from prior network arrests, enabling a large drug seizure. This operation prevented drugs from entering central Bangkok, a critically important area. He urged the public to report any suspicious behavior or parcels promptly to authorities for swift inspection.