Bangkok: ONCB announces two major arrests, seizes 20 million baht in assets of major drug dealers, arrests 1.65 tons of international ice network disguised as ice hidden in cotton rolls. Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, ONCB secretary-general, together with representatives from the Royal Thai Navy, Customs Department, Air Force, and police, announced the results of these significant arrests.
According to Thai News Agency, the first case involves the expansion of an arrest and asset seizure operation targeting major drug dealers. Authorities seized assets valued at approximately 20 million baht. Mr. Phongsak, a high-ranking drug dealer, was apprehended while attempting to flee the country through Chiang Khong District, Chiang Rai Province, near the 4th Thai-Lao Friendship Bridge. The operation led to the search and seizure of properties including houses, cafes, restaurants, and more across four provinces-Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ang Thong, and Tak. These properties, invested in using drug money, were held under the names of family members to evade detection. Mr. Phongsak has a history of coordinating drug trafficking operations across various regions and was linked to a previous case involving the arrest of suspects with 600,000 methamphetamine pills and 41 kilograms of ice in Lampang Province in October 2021.
The second case, conducted on January 17, 2025, involved a coordinated effort by the ONCB and allied agencies such as the navy, air force, and customs. The operation targeted an international ice network, resulting in the arrest of five suspects and the seizure of approximately 1.65 tons of ice hidden in 33 cotton rolls. The incident was uncovered at a warehouse in the Bang Prakok Subdistrict, Rat Burana District, Bangkok. Investigations revealed that the network smuggled over 100 cotton rolls containing ice from India, originating from Africa, using Thailand as a transit point. The network employed nominees to rent warehouses for storing these drug-laden cotton rolls. Four men, who were guarding the warehouse and acting as nominees for an import-export company, were apprehended. Further investigation led to the arrest of a Thai woman, believed to be the mastermind, at a convention center in the Khlong Toei area of Bangkok.
The ONCB secretary-general also led efforts to test the seized cotton rolls for crystal methamphetamine, uncovering a substantial amount of evidence.