Najomtien Police turned a bust for three ya ba tablets into the largest-ever seizure of methamphetamines in the police station’s history.
Chonburi Region 2 Police announced Nov. 26 that officers at the Sattahip substation had arrested members of a long-pursued drug-dealing ring and confiscated nearly 60,000 ya ba tablets and more than 70 g. of ya ice.
Arresting officers bring out suspects and confiscated drugs for the media to record.
The breakthrough began with the simple drug possession arrest of Wasant Sapchalerm, 35, who was caught with only three pills. Under questioning, Wasant reportedly was found to be connected to suspected drug kingpin Thanagrit “Ek Bupha” Tepwoung, who allegedly moves 360,000 packs of methamphetamines per shipment to sell in the Pattaya-Sattahip region.
With the help of informants and undercover officers, police parlayed Wasant’s information into a string of arrests for increasing amounts of drugs. In the following days, officers arrested Adirek Srikaew, 35; Kamthorn Sang-ngern, 38; Wicharn Thongsum, 37; Sunthorn Chiarasuk, 27; and Jariya Pitisa, 27, on charges of possessing various amounts of ya ba, ya ice and marijuana. All, are suspected of belonging to the Ek Bupha drug ring.
Investigators had hoped the arrests would lead them to Thanagrit – who has 18 motorcycles and five cars registered in his name, supposedly for his dealers to use – but when they stormed T&G Apartments in Central Pattaya, they instead uncovered the alleged dealer’s drug storehouse.
Inside, officers arrested Hassachai “Mon” Chuachart, 25, and seized a briefcase containing 59,945 ya ba tablets and 70 g. of ya ice. They also recovered a loaded 9 mm Glock handgun. The Huay Yai man confessed to working for Thanagrit, saying he was paid to keep watch over drugs brought down from Bangkok.
Thanagrit remains at large, but Region 2 Police Commander Lt. Gen. Tha-ngai Prassachaksattru said the Najomtien Police Station’s work has put a serious dent in his operations. Tha-ngai praised the investigators’ work and lauded members of the public who helped the investigation.
