NAKHON SAWAN, THAILAND – Police from Thailand’s Narcotics Suppression Bureau intercepted a modified septic truck carrying more than 8.3 million speed pills, halting an alleged large-scale shipment from the northern border towards the south.
Tip-off leads to surveillance on Highway 333
Investigators said the operation was launched after an informant reported the previous day that a smuggling ring was moving drugs from the northern border region using a vehicle with concealed compartments. Around 12:05 p.m. on Monday, narcotics officers observed a suspicious septic truck on Highway 333 between Ban Rai and Dan Chang in Huai Haeng, Ban Rai district, Uthai Thani province, and placed it under covert surveillance.
Hidden compartment in wastewater tank uncovered
Shortly afterwards, officers signalled the truck to stop in Ban Rai district and escorted it to a vehicle inspection point in Phayuha Khiri district, Nakhon Sawan province. Specialists examined the vehicle and used X-ray equipment to discover that the rear wastewater tank had been converted into a hiding place containing 85 sacks holding a total of 8,394,000 speed pills.
Alleged route from northern border towards the south
According to the arresting team, the shipment was believed to have originated in the northern border region and was intended to pass through several provinces before reaching a network in the south. The suspected route led from Mae Ai district in Chiang Mai province through Chiang Rai, Lampang, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani and Suphan Buri, heading further south before the journey was cut short by the interception.
Driver admits paid transport to Suphan Buri
The driver, a 39-year-old man from Uttaradit province identified by authorities as Wutthichai, admitted during questioning that he had been hired for 500,000 baht to transport the load and named an address in Suphan Buri province as the destination. He stated that he had only received part of the money intended for fuel before the inspection, while officers said the seized drugs were destined for buyers in the south and that further investigations were under way to identify other members of the alleged network.
NSB leadership presents seizure and eyes further arrests
The commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, Pol Lt Gen Achayon Kraithong, and the arresting officers presented the confiscated drugs to the public on Tuesday and outlined the course of the operation.
“The operation was based on targeted intelligence work, and further arrests are expected within the structure of the suspected smuggling network.”
said Achayon, NSB commissioner.