Police at Bua Lai Station intercepted a pickup truck driven by a married couple concealing a large batch of over 2 million methamphetamine pills. They admitted being hired to transport the drugs from Udon Thani, destined for downtown Nakhon Ratchasima.
At approximately 20:30 on 2 September 2026, reporters were informed that Pol Maj Gen Narongsak Promtha, Commander of Nakhon Ratchasima Provincial Police, visited the area to oversee and order local officers to intensify inspections and establish checkpoints. This followed intelligence reports of a large drug shipment moving into Nakhon Ratchasima Province along Mittraphap Road, at the boundary between Bua Lai District, Nakhon Ratchasima, and Mueang Phon District, Khon Kaen Province, on the inbound side to Nakhon Ratchasima city, within Nong Wa Subdistrict, Bua Lai District.
Police at Bua Lai Station, led by Pol Col Nipon Mingkwan, Chief of Bua Lai Police Station, and Pol Lt Col Phaitoon Onkham, Deputy Chief of the station's Investigation Division, set up a checkpoint and successfully arrested two drug network suspects along with a large cache of about 2,000,000 methamphetamine pills.
While officers were conducting the checkpoint, a black Mazda pickup truck with license plates from Loei Province approached. Officers signaled for the vehicle to stop for inspection.
The suspects were identified as a married couple: Mr. Kosin Buayai, 44, from Sakon Nakhon Province, who was driving, and Mrs. Somthawin Chomthee, 47, from Khon Buri District, Nakhon Ratchasima Province, seated beside him. During the search, Mrs. Somthawin appeared suspicious and attempted to flee, but officers quickly pursued and apprehended her.
Upon inspecting the pickup truck's bed, officers found eight tightly concealed sacks containing suspicious items. Opening them revealed methamphetamine packed in black zip-lock bags, each containing about 200 pills, totaling approximately 2,000,000 pills.
In initial questioning, both suspects confessed they were hired to transport all the drugs from Udon Thani to deliver them to downtown Nakhon Ratchasima. However, they were caught at the checkpoint in Bua Lai District before completing their delivery.
Authorities have taken the suspects and evidence into custody, handing them over to investigators at Bua Lai Police Station for official counting. Investigations are ongoing to identify the masterminds and accomplices for legal prosecution.
