NAKHON SAWAN – Police arrested a Hmong tribesman and seized 460,000 methamphetamine pills, or <i>ya ba</i>, worth about 140 million baht, Chanthep Saesawet, Deputy commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, said on Wednesday.
Noppadol Charoenwattanakul and Maitree (last name not given) were stopped at a police checkpoint in Payuha Khiri district in Nakhon Sawan, heading towards Bangkok in a pick-up truck. Police found the speed pills hidden behind the driver's seat, Pol Maj Gen Chanthep said.
Mr Noppadol fled while police were searching the vehicle.
Mr Maitree confessed that he was Mr Noppadol's relative. However, he said he was asked to accompany the man to a market in Pathum Thani and did not know there were drugs in the truck.
Investigators said the pills came from a drug network in the northern region and were bound for Bangkok.
They requested an arrest warrant for Mr Noppadol and charged both suspects with conspiracy to smuggle and to sell drugs.