Warders And Inmates In Thai South To Face Legal Actions In Drug Trafficking

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT, April 23 (TNA) - Police have planned legal actions against warders and inmates at the Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison in the Thai South for their alleged involvement in international drug trafficking. Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief Police Major General Ronapong Saikaeo told journalists of the plan on Monday, one day after a raid at the Nakhon Si Thammarat Prison, where a large amount of drugs and money and nearly 300 mobile phones were seized. Police Major General Ronapong said that the April 22-raid was just the beginning and the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison was the target because it had gathered major drug cartels in the South which were also connected with drug traffickers in the Bang Kwang Central Prison in Bangkok and even those in neighbouring Myanmar and Laos. According to the provincial police chief, four major drug traffickers and about 30 small traffickers at the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison have been identified and about 30 per cent of officials at the prison have also been detected to have involved in the illicit business, who would be prosecuted and whose assets would possibly be seized due to grounded and sufficient evidence. Authorities searched 14 houses of warders of the Nakhon Si Thammarat prison Sunday evening and found useful information. In Thailand's northern Chiang Rai province, meanwhile, local police arrested two suspects, identified as Worawut Uasuwan and Supatra Radinghin, with 158,000 methamphetamine pills and two kilograms of crystal methamphetamine hydrochloride or ice worth altogether over 50 million baht on board a passenger bus at the 2nd Chiang Rai bus terminal. Both suspects said Thongchai Duangnam, also known as Yai Bangyai, hired them for 100,000 baht each to carry the narcotics. Police later searched Thongchai’s house in Bangkok's suburban Nonthaburi province and sought a warrant for his arrest. (TNA)