Authorities expanded their investigation into a drug gang before raiding a house in Nonthaburi, seizing a large 500-kilogram shipment of ice methamphetamine hidden in bitter melon boxes packed tightly inside a covered pickup truck, valued at about 100 million baht.
At 00:15 on 3 Sep 2026 GMT+7, Police Lieutenant Colonel Prasopsin Phimmee-lai, duty investigating officer at Bang Bua Thong Police Station, Nonthaburi Province, received a report that a house in Phimonrat Subdistrict, Bang Bua Thong District, was hiding 500 kilograms of Category 1 illicit drugs (ice methamphetamine).
Following a joint operation by police and military intelligence officers from the Special Warfare Command Operations Center and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, they expanded their investigation of a drug stash. They identified a male suspect driving a white Isuzu D-Max pickup with Bangkok license plates, parked inside the alley of the house. The suspect was later identified as Thanadech Panyethanakan.
A search uncovered approximately 500 kilograms of ice methamphetamine worth about 100 million baht, packaged in orange tea bags stamped with Chinese characters. These were concealed within 56 cardboard boxes mixed with bitter melons, placed in the main hall of the house. The suspect was arrested and, along with the evidence, was sent to Bang Bua Thong Police Station for prosecution under the law.
Later that afternoon, forensic officers from Nonthaburi Province collected evidence, including fingerprints and DNA, from a white Toyota covered pickup truck and a white Isuzu pickup truck, both registered in Bangkok.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Prasopsin Phimmee-lai then interrogated Thanadech Panyothanaphanu. The suspect initially stated this was his first time transporting drugs. He said he received the ice methamphetamine from Pathum Thani Province and parked it at the house to await further instructions on delivery destinations, which he did not know. He claimed he was paid 300,000 baht per delivery.
Preliminary police checks revealed the suspect had previously delivered drugs to Pattaya, Chonburi Province. Authorities will continue investigating the employer and accomplices to apprehend them. After questioning, the suspect will be transferred to Nonthaburi Provincial Court for detention and legal proceedings.