Phitsanulok Provincial Police announced the arrest of a 36-year-old man from Phetchabun who was hired to transport 300,000 yaba pills hidden in three sacks by the roadside in Wat Bot District. He was stopped for a check where suspicious behavior was noted. Police seized yaba, crystal methamphetamine (ice), two illegal guns, along with a sedan and a mobile phone, totaling assets valued at over 610,000 baht. The suspect admitted to being paid 20,000 baht per trip and having done this five times. Police are working to expand the investigation to track down those behind the operation.
At 14:00 on 20 Oct 2023 GMT+7 at Nakhon Thai Police Station, Phitsanulok Province, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thappet Khuenkaew, Commander of Phitsanulok Provincial Police, together with officials from local administration, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, military, and related agencies, held a press conference on a major drug bust. The arrest took place at a checkpoint on the Chat Trakan–Nakhon Thai road near Ban Phrao, Noen Perm Subdistrict, Nakhon Thai District. They arrested Khunakorn Ruangsri, 36, from Lom Sak District, Phetchabun Province, with a gray Honda Civic registered in Bangkok, a Samsung Galaxy mobile phone, 14 yaba pills, 2.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice), and two homemade guns with ammunition.
During interrogation, the suspect stated he was contacted by his employer, Supawit Ratcha, via the Line app, instructing him to drive to specified locations to collect yaba pills and then place them at designated spots. He was paid 20,000 baht per trip and had done this about five times. Officials verified the phone data matching his statements. Subsequently, authorities searched near the roadside at Ban Pong Khae, Village 10, Kan Chong Subdistrict, Wat Bot District, where they found yaba pills concealed in chemical fertilizer sacks branded with a rabbit logo, wrapped in black plastic bags—three sacks totaling approximately 300,000 pills.
Initially, the suspect was charged with illegal possession of firearms, possession of Category 1 narcotics, and drug use. Authorities seized the evidence for prosecution and plan to swiftly expand the investigation to apprehend the employers, masterminds, and related networks for further legal action.
Channarong Sithin, an officer from the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, added that the Y1 symbol is commonly found on yaba imported from the Northeastern region, while the Tongkao or Tonge symbols are linked to drugs from the Northern region. Recently, packaging methods have included tightly wrapped wax paper to reduce odor and protect against moisture during transportation.
However, determining the concentration of methamphetamine requires scientific testing; it cannot be concluded based solely on the pill color.