PUBLISHED : 28 Jul 2023 at 06:46
Police arrested three alleged members of a drug trafficking ring after 831 packs of heroin were found hidden inside crates containing jade sculptures destined for Australia.
The three, identified as Theeraphong “Benz” Noothong, 27; Theeraphong “Od” Phrikbenja, 42, and Ja-eua Ja-sue, 47, were apprehended on Tuesday separately in Nakhon Pathom, Songkhla, and Chiang Rai, respectively.
Arrest warrants for the suspects were issued by the Criminal Court on charges of attempting to smuggle heroin, a Category 1 drug, out of the country, and illegal possession of it, Crime Suppression Division (CSD) commander Pol Maj Gen Montree Kheskhan said yesterday.
CSD police earlier obtained information that heroin would be smuggled out of the country by traffickers hiding the drugs inside the wooden components of 11 crates used for exporting sculptures to Australia.
The 831 packs of seized heroin weighed about 32kg, said the CSD commander, who added they would be worth up to 100 million baht if smuggled to Australia.
CSD investigators said the drugs had been smuggled from the Mae Sai border district in Chiang Rai province and later kept in Salaya district of Nakhon Pathom pending shipment to Australia.
During questioning, the suspects denied all charges.
Criminal records showed that Theeraphong “Benz” had earlier been sentenced to 22 years, nine months, and 15 days on drug charges.
He had been imprisoned in Songkhla Central Prison.
All suspects were handed over to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for further legal action.