Chiang Rai: ONCB arrests drug trafficking network, former prisoner of 17 years, recently released, sets up logistics company to transport drugs via parcels, more than a million pills
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanurat Lakboon, Secretary-General of the ONCB, announced the arrest of two suspects, with four others managing to escape, along with the seizure of 500,000 methamphetamine pills. The operation took place in Mueang Chiang Rai District and extended to Mae Lao District, Chiang Rai Province. The suspects, identified as former drug convicts, have been involved in smuggling drugs through parcels. The ONCB's investigation began in early April 2025, prompted by a tip-off from a concerned citizen regarding suspicious activity by a suspect from Sa Kaeo Province in Chiang Rai Province. Following the suspect's departure from his accommodation, the room's owner discovered empty methamphetamine sacks in the bathroom and alerted authorities. The subsequent investigation revealed that the gang's leader was a former inmate, released in 2024 after serving a 17-year sentence for drug-related charges. By early 2025, the group had registered a parcel delivery company in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province, purp ortedly to manage ten parcels daily, with the primary aim of distributing drugs across the country.
According to Thai News Agency, the ONCB, in collaboration with law enforcement units, expanded their investigation into the network. On May 22, members of the network were observed in Chiang Rai Province, suspected of drug smuggling activities. Around 1:00 AM, two suspicious vehicles were spotted leaving a hotel in tandem, one serving as a lead car and the other as a transport vehicle. Upon executing a search, officers arrested two suspects, uncovering 500,000 methamphetamine pills concealed within two suitcases in the cars. Unfortunately, another vehicle managed to evade capture with four individuals inside. Subsequent searches across four locations in Chiang Rai, Sa Kaeo, and Suphan Buri Provinces yielded no additional fugitives, drugs, or illegal items, though documents were confiscated for further scrutiny.
The investigation revealed that the suspect retrieved drugs from a mountainous area in Mae Suai District, Chiang Rai Province, subsequently packing them into suitcases for transport as per orders from a superior. The suspect admitted to completing three such transactions, receiving payments ranging from 6,000 to 20,000 baht per trip. The first operation occurred in February 2025, involving the transport of 500,000 methamphetamine pills to Rangsit District, Pathum Thani Province. The second took place in April 2025, delivering one bag of methamphetamine pills to Sa Kaeo Province. The third, resulting in his arrest in May 2025, cumulatively involved over 1.6 million pills.
The ONCB Secretary-General emphasized the implementation of preventive measures within logistics transportation systems, both domestically and internationally. This case represents a novel method where traffickers establish logistics companies to facilitate drug distribution through legitimate transportation networks. In response, the ONCB has exercised its authority to order the business's closure and has requested cooperation from the company responsible for registration to scrutinize applicants seeking to open branches. This includes enforcing stringent standards for office operations and parcel inspections before dispatch. The investigation and expansion efforts have identified all fugitive suspects, with plans underway to gather evidence for court-approved arrest warrants.