A convicted drug defendant who escaped custody from the provincial court on Wednesday has been recaptured, along with an accomplice, at a resort in Khon Kaen on Friday morning.

Police surrounded the resort following information that Ratchaphon Khiannok, 35, and 20-year-old accomplice Palangwatchara Khunsinchairat were staying inside.

After the police team stormed the room, they found Ratchaphon and Palangwatchara using drugs. They were arrested and 8,000 methamphetamine pills were seized from the room.

Police said that a manhunt was launched after Ratchaphon escaped while being taken to a prison vehicle at the provincial court on Monday evening.

Ratchaphon, still wearing leg chains, climbed quickly over the court fence and fled on a waiting motorcycle ridden by Palangwatchara.

Following the escape, the two men went to a relative's house in Khon Kaen, to have his leg chains removed. They then fled in a car, leaving the motorcycle at the house.

The two men went to Maha Sarakham to get 14,000 meth pills hidden there. They stayed at a resort in Chiang Yuen before returning to Khon Kaen about 5am on Friday.

During the arrest, Ratchaphon and Palangwatchara were found consuming speed pills, and a large quantity of them was found scattered on the floor, with some being flushed down the toilet.