Deputy Prime Minister Chalearm Yoobamrung announced the arrest of three Hmong men and the seizure of 1.97 million speed pills and 20 kilograms of crystal meth today at Royal Thai Police Sports Club on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road.
The bust was performed yesterday on the Chiang Saen-Mae Chan route in Chiang Rai province, following a tip-off that Hmong people would move the drugs from Mae Fah Luang district down to Central Thailand.
Police reportedly followed four suspected vehicles on the road and shot one dealer dead on the scene following an gunfire exchange. They nabbed 20-year-old Patheep Saeyang, 35-year-old Sitthichai Saeyang and 20-year-old Siridetch Saethao. The triplet were believed to be part of a Myanmar-based big drug ring, run by Burmese narcotics kingpin Yi Say, or Chaiwat Pornsakulpaisal. Police told Dailynews that some dealers had escaped and remained on the loose.
Chalerm stated that police would conduct an investigation to identify the location of Yi Say. He insisted that police were able to issue arrest warrants even though the criminals were not within the Thai territory.
