Prime Minister Anutin arrived in Thailand and led a press briefing on the dismantling of a transnational drug network, seizing precursors capable of producing 1.1 billion methamphetamine pills after cooperation with South Korea and integrated efforts among agencies to track linked transactions.
On 9 June 2026 at 20:15, at a chemical storage warehouse in Samut Prakan Province (Warehouse No. 20), Ms. Ratchada Thanadirek, spokesperson for the Office of the Prime Minister, announced that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul held a press conference on the results of the "Drug Eradication" operation targeting the network of Mr. Thapanan Thammaratthada, alias "Nhu Chen," and the Chinese Tao network.
The Prime Minister stated that the Thai government received cooperation from South Korea's National Intelligence Service (NIS), which extended intelligence operations and facilitated the extradition of key drug trafficker Mr. Thapanan Thammaratthada, or Nhu Chen, back to Thai authorities after he fled Thailand 14 years ago. Subsequently, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and partner agencies, including the police and the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), uncovered networks linked to various transactions involving both domestic and international connections. Among these transactions was the smuggling, buying, and selling of precursors and chemicals used in methamphetamine production in factories located in the Golden Triangle area.
The operation conducted today targeted three companies across four provinces—Bangkok, Samut Prakan, Rayong, and Nonthaburi—with a total of 10 action points. It was also found that these companies were connected to the Chinese Tao group operating illegally in Thailand, smuggling chemicals used to produce etomidate (a Schedule 2 controlled substance), which was mixed into e-cigarette liquids. Authorities have already made four arrests related to this activity.
This operation represents a renewed joint effort to extend investigations to all involved parties and cut off drug production in the Golden Triangle area to prevent drugs from entering Thailand. Authorities seized five types of precursors and chemicals usable in drug manufacturing, totaling 50 tons: 9,105 kg of acetone (used in the plastics industry); 225 kg of hydrochloric acid (used in metal processing, bleaching, fertilizer production, cleaning agents, pharmaceuticals, and organic substances); 10,170 kg of acetic acid (used in textile dyeing and leather tanning); 4,500 kg of sulfuric acid (used for grease removal and metal plating); and 26,000 kg of dioctyl phthalate. If these chemicals had reached drug manufacturing plants, they could have produced 1.1 billion methamphetamine pills, equivalent to an entire year's methamphetamine seizure volume, or 21 tons of crystal methamphetamine (ice).
"The government affirms its firm commitment to suppress drugs and related precursors both domestically and in preventing cross-border smuggling by strictly enforcing the law in all dimensions. We fully support the work of officials and are confident that all agencies understand the dangers and are performing their duties to the fullest," the Prime Minister said.
The press conference took place immediately after the Prime Minister completed the ASEAN Future Forum 2026 (AFF) meeting in Vietnam. Upon landing in Thailand, he proceeded directly to the press briefing.
