TRANG: Illicit drugs worth about 20 million baht have been seized and 52 suspects, including two major drug dealers, caught in a week-long police crackdown in this southern province.
Pol Maj Gen Sompong Thongbai, chief of Trang police, said on Wednesday that local police and narcotics suppression officers had acted jointly against illicit drug networks and weapons smugglers between Dec 4 and 11.
During the operation, 52 drug suspects were arrested individually and drugs and weapons worth about 20 million baht seized.
The confiscated items included 22,493 speed pills, 3kg of crystal methamphetamine, 7.9kg of kratom leaves, some marijuana, two pistols with 64 bullets and a Honda car and were displayed at a media briefing on Wednesday.
Of the suspects, Noppadon Samapong, 32, and Veerapong Deerat, 51, both of Kantang district, were alleged major drug dealers, he said. Twenty of the suspects were people in possession of drugs for personal use.
The Trang police chief said the influx of illicit drugs into the province had nothing to do with the sluggish economy or the falling price of methamphetamine pills. He blamed it on the behavioural problems of teenagers wanting to try drugs to satisfy their curiosity.
Senior police in Trang display seized illicit drugs and weapons at a media briefing in this southern province on Wednesday. (Photo by Methee Muangkaew)