Police launches operation against crime in northern provinces

CHIANG RAI, Nov 18 (TNA) -- The Provincial Police Region 5 has launched operations to eradicate crimes within the four provinces in the upper northern region, where they were able to arrest 245 suspects, as well as confiscated over one million pills of methamphetamine and 99 fire arms. Acting Commissioner of the Provincial Police Region 5, Pol Maj Gen Poonsap Prasertsak said the crime prevention operations have launched in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Payao, and Lampang during Loy Kratong Festival or between October 29-November 17. He said that during the period, the police were able to arrest 245 suspects, confiscated 1.09 million meth pill, seven kilogrammes of opium, and a handful of ice meth, heroine, ecstasy, fresh and dried marijuana, along with 99 fire arms, 232 ammunition, two pick up trucks and seven motorcycles. Additionally, the acting commissioner has said that he had led forces of narcotics police and police officers to raid an apartment in Chiang Rai provincial seat, during which they were able to seize an asset in connection to a drug gang worth over 10 million baht. The raid has come after the arrest of Private Wichai Rakkririkhet, one of the suspects connected to a drug syndicate two years ago. He was arrested while he was driving a van which had been stashed with 1.4 million meth pills, 150 kilogrammes of ice meth across the border in Mae Sai district heading to Bangkok to make his delivery. (END)