Seven raids, 14 arrests, huge drug haul

Officers of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau have arrested 14 suspects and seized 31 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine, 1.4 million methamphetamine pills, 650 grammes of cocaine and 1.5kg of opium.

NSB commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sommai Kongwisaisuk told a press conference the seizures and arrests involved seven operations.

On Jan 22, NSB police arrested three suspects -- Worapoj Namnoi, 44, Narissara Banchongkan, 22, Chatchawal Khlaichiew, 26 -- with 745,600 methamphetamine pills and 14kg of crystal meth, or ice, at a warehouse in tambon Lahan of Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district.

An expanded investigation led to the arrest of five other suspects -- Suthat Thienthong, 37, Chayanant Thienthong, 38, Pithaya Saengcheen, 35, Arthit Kerdpol, 33, and Vithan Sudsanguan, 33 -- with 50,000 methamphetamine pills and 410g of ice.

Narongchai Promsuwan, 21, was subsequently arrested with 100,000 methamphetamine pills and 5kg of ice.

A Russian woman, Yulia Makuchova, was arrested at Suvarnabhumi Airport and found to have 650g of cocaine after being taken to the x-ray room at the customs office. The woman had travelled from Sao Paolo, Brazil after swallowing 57 small packages of cocaine.

Later, officers seized 1.59kg of opium hidden in the soles of 10 pairs of children's shoes at an international delivery company in Bang Phli district, Samut Prakan province.

Then Phisanu Nimnual, 36, Paruhat Puthaprasitchai, 36, and Nathawut Kongwatana, 36, were nabbed with 40,000 methamphetamine pills and 2kg of ice at a department store in Bangkok's Bang Khun Thian district.

In the latest raid, Arnont Kraisutha, 36, was caught with 542,000 methamphetamine pills and 10.3kg of crystal meth at an apartment in Soi Ratchadapisak 32 in Bangkok's Chatuchak district.