Thai police crackdown on drug smuggling

PATHUM THANI, March 22 (TNA) - The police held a sting operation posing as customers to make a purchase of 1 kilogramme of crystal methamphetamine or “ice” from a drug syndicate while authorities in Bueng Kan province were able to confiscate 98 kilogrammes of marijuana along the Mekong River. The police posed as a buyer and got into contact with a suspect to buy one kilogramme of ice meth, worth 1.5 milion baht to be delivered in Pathum Thani. The man was arrested on the spot.The police expanded investigation, leading to the arrest of another suspect at Don Muang Airport. Meanwhile, local authorities, together with the Mekhong Riverine Unit Headquarter (MRU), and Marine Police in Bueng Kan province confiscated three sacks of compressed marijuana, weighing 98 kilogrammes in total with a street value of 1.5 million baht. Officials said a transnational drug smuggling gang had left marijuana near the bank of the Mekong River on the Thai side before escaping back into Lao PDR on a boat. Concerned officials are now carrying out an immediate investigation into the case to find out more about the drugs.(TNA)