Narcotics suppression police arrested four people and seized assets worth about 43 million baht during raids in four provinces aimed at dismantling a major drug network.
Officers of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s Sayob Pairee task force on Tuesday morning searched 10 locations in Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Chachoengsao provinces to seized the assets of Thanakit Srisaknok, 31, alias “Jojo Min Buri”, said to head a major drug ring in Min Buri.
During the raids, four suspected members of the network were arrested, NSB chief Pol Lt Gen Sarayut Sa-nguanphokhai said.
The assets impounded included a two-storey house, an apartment building and 370,000 baht cash – worth about 43.37 million baht in total and believed to be the proceeds of drug dealing
Mr Thanakit was arrested on June 14, together with girlfriend Nuanchan Buaban, at a petrol station in Klong Sam Wa district. Police then seized 442.70 grammes of ketamine and impounded assets worth 1.7 million baht from Mr Thanakit.
His apprehension followed the March 31 arrest by crime suppression police and soldiers of a drug dealer and seizure of 300 grammes of crystal methamphetamine and 2,000 meth pills in the car park of Min Residence building in Min Buri district. The suspect delivered drugs to young people in Min Buri area, Pol Lt Gen Sarayut said.
During questioning, the suspect implicated Mr Thanakit in the drug trade. He alleged he received the drugs he sold from Mr Thanakit.
Pol Lt Gen Sarayut said that narcotics suppression officers also arrested 23 suspects in five other drug cases in other provinces. They seized 4,096,000 meth, four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 62 million baht in assets from them.
In one of those cases, three suspects were arrested wtih 3.8 million meth pills, four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and two pickup trucks and three mobile phones were impounded in Kranuan district of Khon Kaen, Pol Maj Gen Sarayut said.
Authorities would continue their operation to close down the network, arrest the remaining members and seize their assets, he said.
