Kamphaeng Phet: Fleeing for his life, a man from Chiang Mai was apprehended after a high-speed chase ended in a crash involving an 18-wheel trailer truck. The man, identified as Mr. Kritsada, was driving a pickup truck loaded with 5 million methamphetamine pills when he tried to evade a police checkpoint.
According to Thai News Agency, the dramatic incident unfolded at 8:00 p.m. when Kamphaeng Phet police were alerted by Bang Police Station about a pickup truck that had fled a red light checkpoint at the Nong Phling Non-Formal Education Center. The pursuit concluded at a U-turn point near the Kamphaeng Phet Shooting Range, where Mr. Kritsada's vehicle collided with a trailer truck, rendering it completely destroyed.
Upon arrest, police discovered that the truck bore a fake license plate from Sukhothai Province, though the genuine plate hailed from Phayao Province. Additional plates from various other provinces were also found. The pickup was heavily loaded with methamphetamine pills, making an immediate count impossible. Subsequently, the vehicle was photographed and taken to the police station for further investigation.
The preliminary count revealed 8 sacks of methamphetamine in the truck's rear, 10 more sacks in the passenger seat, and 2 additional sacks on the passenger seat, totaling 5 million pills. The drugs were marked with symbols including the number 999, 5 stars, and an image of Che Guevara.
Pol. Col. Anek Chanthason, deputy commander of Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Police, stated that the suspect is being further interrogated. Coordination with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board 6 is underway to widen the investigation and apprehend other gang members. Mr. Kritsada confessed to transporting the drugs from Chiang Rai to Lampang, intending to reach the central region, and used different license plates in each province to avoid detection.
The chase through Kamphaeng Phet saw Mr. Kritsada taking a convoluted route, attempting to evade capture. Despite his efforts to outmaneuver the police, he ultimately crashed in front of the Kamphaeng Phet Shooting Range, leading to his arrest and the seizure of the methamphetamine haul.