Crime

1.6 Tons of Crystal Methamphetamine Seized in Southern Thailand

Published

2 years ago

May 15, 2023

Bchcomber

1.6 Tons of Crystal Methamphetamine Seized in Southern Thailand

Thailand’s Office of Narcotics Control Board announced on Sunday that 9 people were arrested and 1.6 tons of crystal Methamphetamine aka “Ya Ice” was seized as the drugs were being put onto a boat to be smuggled out of the country.

The operation was carried out with the assistance of local police at Mai Khao dock in Tha Sala district of southern Thailand’s Nakhon Si Thammarat province .

They were apprehended while unloading 1.5 tons of crystal meth from two vans. They told police that the drugs were going to be loaded onto a boat bound for other countries. According to a source, the suspects’ network has already smuggled significant amounts of drugs out of the country at least three times.

The crackdown was begun when local officials received information from the destination country that a substantial amount of crystal meth was about to be smuggled from the dock.

The network chose to carry out the effort just before election day, assuming that local officials would be concerned with securing election facilities, according to the ONCB.

The probe was being broadened in order to find other members of the network. Police were collecting evidence from the boat in the hopes of uncovering information that might lead them to more suspects.

Meanwhile, on Friday, Metropolitan Police intercepted approximately 1.4 million methamphetamine pills in a pickup truck in Bangkok.

The arrest occurred on Tiwanon Road in Nonthaburi, according to Pol Col Theeradej Thammasuthee, chief of Crime Suppression Division sub-division 6. Suwicha Musikakun, 41, and Chaikup Taemdee, 41, were arrested after 1.4 million meth pills were discovered in the Toyota pickup they were driving.

The arrest was made as part of a bigger sweep ordered by the Royal Thai Police ahead of the general election on Sunday, with the goal of bringing down the so-called “A-kuay” drugs network, according to Pol Col Theeradej.

The information that led to the bust was gathered during a prior arrest in which suspects pointed out a network that began in Ayutthaya and supplied drugs to central Bangkok.

Mr Chaikup admitted to authorities that he was paid 50,000 baht per trip and supplied 10,000 baht to his cohort. Both have been reported to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, who will take legal action.

Mr Chaikup was also detained in 2007 for cocaine possession, according to court documents.

Drug Addition and Methamphetamine in Thailand

Methamphetamine is a major problem in Thailand, where it is frequently referred to as “ya ba,” which translates to “crazy medicine.” Methamphetamine is used by around 2% of the Thai population on a regular basis, and the drug is widely available throughout the country.

Methamphetamine manufacture and distribution in Thailand is primarily controlled by organised crime syndicates. The substance is manufactured in huge quantities in neighbouring nations such as Myanmar and Laos before being trafficked into Thailand via numerous methods, including porous borders.

To fight the methamphetamine problem, the Thai government has implemented a variety of measures, including law enforcement attempts to destroy drug trafficking networks and a crackdown on drug usage and possession. Furthermore, the government has developed public health initiatives to raise awareness about the dangers of methamphetamine use and to encourage people to seek drug addiction treatment.

Despite these measures, methamphetamine remains a big problem in Thailand, and the country remains a major transit hub for regional drug trafficking.

Methamphetamine addiction is a significant problem in Thailand. Methamphetamine, also known as “yaba,” is a powerful stimulant drug that is often abused in the country. The drug is widely available, and its use has become increasingly popular in recent years.

According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, Thailand has one of the highest rates of methamphetamine use in the world. In 2020, it was estimated that there were approximately 400,000 methamphetamine users in the country.

The Thai government has taken several steps to address the problem of methamphetamine addiction in the country. These efforts include increased law enforcement to crack down on drug trafficking, as well as the implementation of drug treatment programs and rehabilitation centers for those struggling with addiction.

However, despite these efforts, methamphetamine addiction remains a significant problem in Thailand. The drug is highly addictive and can have serious health consequences for those who use it. It is important for individuals struggling with addiction to seek help and support to overcome their dependence on this drug.

Crime

Police Officer Being Ordained at Temple Arrested for Running Scam Call Center

Published

7 months ago

July 20, 2024

Thomas3940

Police Officer Being Ordained at Temple Arrested

Police in Northern Thailand have arrested a fellow officer as he was being ordained at a temple in Ngao district of neighbouring Lampang province.

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Pol Lt Col Bandit Khonkan chief inspector from the Hang Dong police station was disrobed and taken to the Chang Puak station in Chiang Mai. He was arrested on charges of running a call centre scam gang in Chiang Mai Province.

According to Thai Media Chiang Mai Provincial Police Region 5 obtained an arrest warrant for Pol Lt Col Bandit on Friday from the Chiang Mai Provincial Court for procuring illegal telecom equipment, setting up a station and using public airwaves to run a telecommunications business without permission.

Pol Lt Col Bandit reportedly told investigators that he was not the ringleader and was only a member of the gang with Chinese partners.

His arrest followed the apprehension of his 26-year-old daughter, Miss Wanuchapond, 26, and three others during raids at three housing projects in Chiang Mai on Friday, Pol Maj Gen Weerachon Boontawee, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 5 told Thai media.

During the raids police police discovered around 12 GSM gateways, or SIM boxes, which are devices used for converting cellular networks into mobile phone numbers used domestically.

The chief inspectors daughter Miss Wanuchapond told the arresting officers that she was paid 8,000 baht a month at each of the three locations for renting thr rooms and monitoring devices.

She claimed she had no idea what the devices were and accepted the job because the pay was attractive.

Police investigators working with telecom regulators used a special tracking device to monitor the gang’s communications and learned that its base was in Myanmar opposite Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai.

The call center gang used the GSM gateways to make calls over the internet to scam people in Thailand out of million of baht.

The GSM gateways transmitting signals via SIM boxes to convert them into domestic phone numbers, duping victims into thinking they were being called from Thai government agencies.

Pol Maj Gen Weerachon said that each SIM box held 32 SIM cards, with a capacity of up to 300,000 calls a month. The seized devices had made fraudulent calls over 3.6 million times.

He said the their investigation is ongoing and they are working to track down the remaining conspirators, including Chinese and other Thai suspects.

Authorities are still deciding whether Pol Lt Col Bandit will be dismissed from the force, he said, adding that so far, no other officers are known to have been involved.

Police in Chiang Rai Launch Crackdown on Cyber Criminals in Golden Triangle

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin has authorized the establishment of an emergency cyber center operated by the Royal Thai Police to combat transnational crimes committed by call center gangs along the Thai border in Chiang Rai province.

On July 19, Prime Minister Settha Thavisin directed the Center to combat information technology crimes. The Royal Thai Police (Royal Thai Police) will crack down on call center gangs in Myanmar, Laos, and along the border.

His directive comes as call center gangs ratchet up their scams to defraud people of their money, causing concern among Thais and jeopardizing the country’s economic and social stability.

Machete Wielding Man Shot an Killed by Police in Chiang Rai

https://www.chiangraitimes.com/chiangrai-news/machete-wielding-man-shot-an-killed-by-police-in-chiang-rai/

Crime

Thai Immigration Police Arrest Colombian Tourists Over Home Invasions

Published

7 months ago

July 20, 2024

Thomas3940

Thai Immigration Police Arrest Colombian Tourist

Immigration police officers have arrested four Colombian nationals in connection with a series of home burglaries at luxury housing complexes in the Bangkok metropolitan area and Chiang Buri Province.

Contents

Police called to home invasion Other Bangkok News:Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Pol Maj Gen Panthana Nuchanart, deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, told a press briefing that three of the suspects were apprehended in Nonthaburi Province and the fourth in South Pattaya, Chon Buri Province.

According to the Bangkok Post, the Colombians were charged with stealing conspiracy and seized around 3 million baht (US$82,500.00).

According to Pol Maj Gen Panthana, the criminals rode motorcycles through housing estates, scoping out the properties and waiting for the owners to depart before committing their crimes.

He stated that all four of the accused denied any involvement in the home break-ins, but the arresting squad discovered evidence that implicated them.

Police called to home invasion

Meanwhile, police were dispatched to a luxury housing development in Tambon Nong Prue, Chonburi Province, after a Chinese man was attacked during a house invasion.

When they arrived, they discovered the house owner, Mr. Qian Peng Yi, visibly scared and with marks from being tied up with a cable. He informed police that three Chinese males broke into his home at 9 p.m., one of whom brandished a gun at him and directed him to his bedroom.

They bound his hands and feet, gagged him with fabric, taped his head, and forced him into the bed. The intruders then attempted to compel him into transferring 10 million baht in cryptocurrencies to them, endangering the life of his 33-year-old cousin who was in a second-floor bedroom.

While they scoured the house in search of riches, Mr. Peng Yi managed to flee and hide; he subsequently observed them leave with his cousin. Officials investigated the property and analyzed security camera footage from the incident and surrounding areas.

Around 9 p.m., a 30-year-old van driver came at the Bang Lamung police station after being contacted by an agency to carry Chinese customers from Pattaya to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

The driver informed authorities that he was supposed to pick them up at a motel about a kilometer from the Chinese businessman’s home. He then drove them to Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport, arriving at 1 a.m. and receiving 1,800 baht.

The driver took a snapshot of the group smoking at the airport gate and identified one of them as the victim’s cousin. Police suspected coordination between her and the three suspects in her cousin’s heist, who all departed Thailand on the same aircraft.

Other Bangkok News:

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Police in Bangkok Discover Six Vietnamese Tourists Dead in 5 Star Hotel

Crime

Son of Thailand’s Leading Legal Scholar on Corruption Arrested for Running Online Gambling Network

Published

7 months ago

July 17, 2024

Thomas3940

The son of a former senator and leading economist and expert on corruption and gambling in Thailand has been arrested for on charges of running an online gambling network and its payment system.

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Police from Thailand’s Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD) have confiscated assets worth more than (US$ 11.1 million) 400 million baht.

Narote Piriyarangsan, 33, was arrested following crackdowns in three sites around the city, according to Pol Maj Gen Athip Pongsiwapai, commander of the police Technology Crime Suppression Division (TCSD).

Mr Narote’s father, Sangsit Piriyarangsan, is an economist who has written articles and books about corruption and gambling. He was one of the appointed senators that were investigating the government’s intention to legalize casino gaming before their terms expired.

Police also detained 39-year-old Narayut Narakaew, the owner of the gambling website 69pgslot.com. The Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for the couple for operating an internet gambling service and money laundering.

According to the Bangkok Post, police seized two desktop computers, one laptop computer, 14 mobile phones, 21 bank passbooks, 53 ATM cards, and four high-end cars — a Ferrari 926 GTS, an Aston Martin, a Lexus, and a Subaru — totaling more than 400 million baht.

Police launched the inquiry after discovering the online gambling site, which accepted funds via an automatic deposit-withdrawal system through bank accounts and deposits in the AskMePay system. Players scanned the VPay QR code as well as the QR codes for Heng Online 888 or Heng Pay Company.

Police also discovered that payments received via QR code scans were transferred to the account of Heng Pay Co and then to the gambling website’s mule accounts using AskMePay, which did not use banks’ face recognition scanning. An inquiry indicated a monthly turnover of approximately 5 billion baht.

According to investigators, the website has been up and running for around four years, with the payment mechanism in use for roughly eight months.

According to Pol Maj Gen Athip, Mr Narote owns the gaming website’s payment systems and is the director of Heng Pay Co. After gathering evidence, authorities requested arrest warrants for 14 people.

Thailand does not allow almost any kind of gaming. Even though the law doesn’t say anything specific about online gaming, it is still considered gambling. The country has pretty strict rules about gambling. Thai punters can bet on the national lottery and horse races, but they can’t bet on any other types of games.

But it’s not a secret that there is a huge illegal gaming business in Thailand, even though it’s illegal.

The illegal casinos, online betting shops, underground lotteries, and pop-up bookies that take bets on everything from cockfights to Muay Thai make a shadow economy that is worth billions of dollars every year.