Khon kaen: The Narcotics Suppression Police have apprehended an assistant professor from a prestigious university in Khon Kaen, known for his academic credentials, for his involvement in the illegal drug trade. The arrest was the culmination of a police sting operation aimed at curbing the distribution of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as "ice," in the region.
According to Thai News Agency, the investigation began when police searched the vehicle of the assistant professor but initially found no trace of narcotics. However, a subsequent search of the premises belonging to Mr. Rat, an associate of the academic, yielded 34.65 grams of ice concealed within perfume boxes and wet tissue packets. Despite the discovery, the assistant professor initially denied any connection to the drugs.
The situation escalated when police conducted a search of the assistant professor's own residence, uncovering an additional 1.15 grams of ice. It was at this juncture that the professor began to admit partial involvement, though he withheld the full extent of his actions. The breakthrough came when authorities detained Mr. Prathanphon, also known as Bai Bon, who confessed to purchasing ice through an online platform and provided details leading back to the assistant professor.
The sting operation involved Bai Bon placing an order for ice while police observed from Mr. Rat's location. Upon witnessing Mr. Rat preparing to distribute the narcotics, police intervened and detained him. Mr. Rat implicated the assistant professor, alleging that he was acting under the professor's instructions and received compensation for each transaction.
Further investigations revealed that the assistant professor had contacted Mr. Rat, intending to deliver drugs to a customer. This phone call coincided with the police's arrest of Mr. Rat, and upon the professor's arrival at Mr. Rat's dormitory, authorities apprehended him.
Faced with substantial evidence, the assistant professor eventually confessed to acquiring the ice from a Twitter user named 'Aroma,' with transactions facilitated through a cash-on-delivery system from Bangkok. Despite his initial denials, he admitted to ordering 20 grams of ice for 10,000 baht and habitually deleting transaction records to avoid detection.
Both the assistant professor and Mr. Rat now face charges of jointly distributing Category 1 narcotics. Additionally, Mr. Rat has been charged with drug use following a positive urine test. The assistant professor, when questioned about his involvement, revealed a history of drug use dating back to his teenage years, which eventually led him to become a dealer.