A suspect in the seizure of 10 kilogrammes of crystal meth and a million methamphetamine pills in Nakhon Si Thammarat has been arrested in Songkhla after fleeing into a swamp.
Mongkol Sangchaeng, 53, also known as Ael Bo-it, was wanted under a warrant approved by Thung Song Court, Provincial Police Region 9 commissioner Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp Pusara said on Wednesday.
On April 15, Mr Mongkol was travelling in a black Honda Accord, accompanied by his girlfriend Juthalak Muangkhumand her two-year-old daughter.
The vehicle crashed into a roadside railing on the main highway near Moo 6 village in Tham Phannara district of Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Mr Mongkol, his girlfriend and her daughter were seen fleeing in a white Mazda sedan, abandoning the immobilised Honda Accord.
Police found 10kg of crystal meth and about 1 million meth pills in the crashed car.
Ms Juthalak surrendered to police, and on April 16 the Thung Song Court approved a police warrant for the arrest of Mr Mongkol.
Investigators traced Mr Mongkol to a hut at Ban Khok Rai in tambon Phawong of Songkhla’s Muang district, and moved in to arrest him on Wednesday morning.
Mr Mongkol tried to escape by running into a nearby swamp, but was caught.
Pol Lt Gen Ronnasilp said the suspect had a prior criminal record as a drug dealer and had been arrested and jailed four times since 1987.
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Drug fugitive Mongkol Sangchaeng is arrested in a swamp in Songkhla’s Muang district on Wednesday, wanted over the seizure of a million meth pills and 10kg of crystal meth in Nakhon Si Thammarat on April 15. (Photo: Assawin Pakkawan)
