The Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) has seized a house in Bangkok worth 21 million baht from a suspected international drug trafficker, following the discovery of nearly a tonne of methamphetamine destined for Taiwan in August.
The house sits on a 1-rai plot at a luxury estate in Saphan Sung district. The property was seized yesterday morning.
Wichai Chaimongkol, secretary-general of the ONCB who led the operation, said it belonged to Somprat Sae Ung, 53, a fugitive wanted for colluding in illicit drug trafficking and money laundering. The house, which was empty, was purchased by Mr Somprat for 21 million baht.
Police seized the house, cash, bankbooks and other assets worth about 50 million baht.
The property’s seizure followed the discovery of 945 kilogrammes of crystal meth hidden in silicon sheets at Bangkok Port on Aug 15.
That led to the arrest of a man and woman, Somchart Saweechotsakul and Pornthipha Wongjinda, with another 76kg of crystal meth found at a warehouse in Lat Lum Kaew district and a rented house in Thanyaburi district of Pathum Thani, Mr Wichai said.
Mr Somchart ran an export-import firm, he said.
Investigators allege he had hired the two suspects to smuggle the drugs.
They found evidence of money transactions and obtained a court warrant for the arrest of Mr Somprat, who was believed to have fled to a neighbouring country, the ONCB secretary-general said.