BANGKOK, THAILAND – Police from Banglamung arrested a suspected drug courier in Bangkok and seized a sizable drug cache linked to supplies of synthetic drugs to the Pattaya area.
Early-morning arrest in Bangkok apartment
The arrest of 37-year-old Anupong Wetchareuangphon, known as “Nu Phra Ram 3,” took place on Wednesday at about 6 a.m. in a rented apartment in Bangkok’s Yannawa district. Officers from Banglamung Police Station in Chonburi province had travelled to the capital for the operation.
The raid was led by Police Col. Sarawut Nuchanart, head of Banglamung Police Station, supported by Pol. Lt. Col. Kornpong Sukwisit, deputy head of investigations, and Pol. Lt. Col. Wuttiphong Kasa, commander of the investigations division.
Officers posed as food couriers for controlled buy
The operation was triggered by an undercover sting. According to police, officers posed as food delivery workers, wore wigs and carried delivery bags to avoid drawing attention, and arranged a controlled purchase of crystal methamphetamine in front of the residential building.
When the apparently sleepy suspect left the house carrying the drugs, investigators identified themselves and arrested him on the spot. Police stated he already had narcotics on him that were allegedly intended for the handover.
Over 1.4 kilograms of meth and heroin seized
During a subsequent search of the room, officers discovered a substantial drug stockpile. They seized 1.2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine (“Ice”), 260 grams of powdered heroin, 1,500 orange yaba tablets and various drug paraphernalia.
According to police, the narcotics were hidden in piggy banks shaped like traditional monks’ alms bowls and in a combination safe. Authorities viewed this concealment as an attempt to hinder inspections and disguise drug hiding places.
Trail from Pattaya to Bangkok
The Bangkok raid followed weeks of investigations in Pattaya. Banglamung police reported they had observed a sharp increase in orange yaba pills there, a colour variant that had rarely appeared in earlier seizures.
Through undercover work and surveillance, the supply chain was traced back to an allegedly larger dealer in Bangkok. In this context, officers identified Anupong as an important distributor of the tablets in Pattaya and surrounding areas of Chonburi.
Suspect admits role as courier
During questioning, the detainee admitted, according to police, that the seized drugs belonged to a larger network. He said he had only taken on the role of a “pilot,” meaning courier.
He told investigators he received 500 baht per delivery to drop prepared packages at designated locations. He also confirmed that the orange yaba tablets increasingly seized in Pattaya had been delivered by him.
Charges and ongoing investigation into network
The suspect was initially taken back to Banglamung Police Station, where the case was to be further developed. He faced multiple charges under the Thai Narcotics Act, including possession with intent to sell and illegal drug use.
After that, Anupong was to be transferred to Yannawa Police Station in Bangkok to initiate formal criminal proceedings. Authorities emphasized that investigations into the suspected wider network were continuing.