"Big Ran" Pol Gen Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, led a press briefing to present the Narcotics Suppression Police's success in breaking a drug network in Lopburi province, seizing a large batch of ice hidden in a van weighing nearly one ton. The suspect confessed to earning 10,000 baht per trip and had done this twice.
At 17:00 on 22 Sep 2023, at the Metropolitan Police Bureau headquarters, Pol Gen Samran Nualma, Deputy Commissioner-General and Director of the Narcotics Suppression Center, Pol Lt Gen Siam Boonsom, Chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau, and Pol Maj Gen Theeradej Thammasuthi, Deputy Chief of Metropolitan Police Bureau, held a press conference. The Narcotics Suppression Unit led by Pol Col Supachai Chaisuwan, Commander, Pol Lt Col Woraprach Wutthirak, Deputy Commander, and Pol Lt Col Woraphon Somprasong, Chief Investigator, arrested Mr. Somkid or Khid Phutsiri, 41, a resident of Lopburi, on charges of distributing Category 1 narcotics (ice or methamphetamine) by possessing for sale without authorization, an act intended for commerce that spreads among the public and threatens national security and public safety.
Seized evidence includes 900 kilograms of ice valued at 270 million baht, a bronze Toyota Commuter van with license plate Nok 3358 from Nong Khai province, and mobile phones.
Following the arrest of 300 kilograms of ice in Lopburi on 13 Sep, investigators uncovered leads about a drug network in Lopburi smuggling narcotics to customers across the central region, Bangkok, and its vicinity. This network used Toyota and Volkswagen Caravelle vans to transport large batches of ice from the Upper Northeastern region to hide at an unnumbered house in Bang Khan Mak subdistrict, Mueang Lopburi district. Narcotics Suppression officers surrounded the area and at 21:00 on 21 Sep found Mr. Somkid driving the Toyota van into a remote alley to store the drugs at the house. Upon inspection, 18 black tape-wrapped sacks containing 900 bags of ice, totaling 900 kilograms, were found in the vehicle.
During interrogation, Mr. Somkid confessed that he was transporting ice to store before distributing to customers. He said he was ordered by a man called 'Mor', whose full name is unknown, to transport ice and was paid 10,000 baht per trip. He had done this twice, using the same van. The suspect and seized items were handed over to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for further legal action.