Phuket —
Phuket Provincial Police have announced the successful dismantling of a drug trafficking network that concealed methamphetamine pills inside parcels delivered to the island. The operation resulted in the seizure of 197,800 pills and the arrest of two suspects, with the haul valued at approximately 10 million baht.
Police told the Phuket Express that the operation was led by Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert Sukhum, Commander of Phuket Provincial Police, alongside senior officers from Phuket City Police Station, Cherng Talay Police Station, and the Provincial Investigation Division. The announcement followed a coordinated investigation with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) after a related seizure in Satun Province on March 30th, where nearly 20,000 pills were discovered hidden inside air cooler boxes shipped via a private courier.
Investigators traced the sender to Bangkok and identified seven additional parcels destined for Phuket. On April 2, surveillance teams monitored suspicious deliveries at courier depots in Phuket City and Thalang District. Two separate seizures were made:
- Phuket City: Four parcels addressed to a tattoo shop contained meth pills hidden inside two air coolers and two boxes disguised as milk cartons. A total of 97,800 pills were recovered. Two suspects, identified as Mr. Veerapong “Ton” Thongwisets and Ms. Chanidapha Pramongkit, were arrested at the scene. They face charges of possession and intent to distribute a Category 1 narcotic.
- Cherng Talay: Two parcels delivered to a local restaurant contained meth pills concealed in air coolers. Officers discovered 100,000 pills but no suspects were present to claim the packages. The investigation is ongoing to identify additional members of the network.
Police stated that the operation was part of a broader crackdown on narcotics trafficking in southern Thailand, noting the increasing use of parcel delivery services to conceal drugs. Authorities vowed to continue expanding the investigation to dismantle the wider network and prevent further distribution.
“This operation demonstrates our commitment to protecting the community from the spread of narcotics,” said Pol. Maj. Gen. Sinlert. “We will pursue every lead to ensure those behind this network are brought to justice.”
