KHON KAEN: A drug gang leader was arrested after he delivered methamphetamine pills to an associate in front of a plain-clothed policeman he thought was a friendly visitor.
Three other plain-clothed police who were near the house in Muang district quickly showed up and they took the dealer and his friend into custody.
This was followed by the arrests of seven other members of the gang at separate locations in the province, bringing the total number of arrests to nine.
The suspects, seven men and two women, were identified as gang leader Visanu Lakchan, 21; Bovornrat Pradapsri, 37; Chinathip Muangmai, 31; Pitthaya Sinthu, 21; Panpon Korsing, 29; Chanont Lakchan, 21; Kittikorn Machim, 38; and the women as Patsada Machim, 21, and Thidarat Jampa 17.
A total of 6,096 meth pills, an amount of crystal methamphetamine, one shotgun and 50 rounds, 155,000 baht cash and a motorcycle were seized from them, Pol Maj Gen Prommanatthakhet Hamkhampai, chief of Khon Kaen police, told a media conference on Friday. (continues below)
Packets of speed pills and some crystal meth, and a motorcycle, seized from the nine drug suspects in Khon Kaen. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)
The arrests came after a team of four plain-clothes police searched the house of one of the suspects, Mr Pitthaya, at Non Muang village in tambon Sila of Muang district on Thursday.
One officer was questioning Mr Pitthaya inside the house while the three others were walking around outside when Mr Visanu arrived with a delivery of drugs for Mr Pitthaya. A subsequent search of his room uncovered more speed pills and some crystal meth hidden in the ceiling.
“During interrogation, the gang leader said he arrived at the house to deliver the drugs and when he saw the officer inside the room jumped to the conclusion that he and Pitthaya were friends," the Khon Kaen police chief said.
"He then greeted Pitthaya and told him to come outside and get the drugs. He was arrested, on the spot."
Investigators learned that the gang bought drugs from Lao traffickers and they were smuggled via Nong Khai province to Khon Kaen, Pol Maj Gen Prommanatthakhet said.
The suspects were held in custody at Muang police station and face charges of having illicit drugs in possession with intent to sell, unlawful possession of firearms and carrying firearms in public.
A police chart shows the drug smuggling network in Khon Kaen province, supplied by a Lao trafficker. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)