Four men from the North allegedly involved with dealing drugs in Pattaya were arrested in separate operations near Bangkok.
Chonburi and Pattaya police on March 21 announced the capture of accused gang leader Kritsana Sirikulmanee, 34, with 2,000 amphetamine tablets, a 9 mm. pistol and bullets.
Ckaradej Charoenteeprasert, 50, Wisut Tubmuang, 37, and Jirayuth Nakang, 31, were arrested later with another 40,000 ya ba pills.
Police also seized a car and motorcycle under drug forfeiture laws.
Police said they had been tracking two northern drug gangs operating in Pattaya with Kritsana being the lead trafficker. Police set up an operation to purchase 200,000 ya ba pills and five kilograms of crystal meth from the smugglers. Undercover officers and the alleged dealers agreed to meet to sample 2,000 pills in Samut Prakan.
When police moved in, Kritsana tried to open fire, but his gun jammed. He was captured fleeing on foot.
Under interrogation, Kritsana gave up the names of the other three suspects, who were caught with 40,000 speed pills in a sting operation in front of Eakachai Hospital in Samut Sakorn.
All were charged with possession with intent to sell Category 1 narcotics.
