A Prachachuen junior police officer who had been on the run for several days turned himself in to the authorities Wednesday and admitted to being a drug mule for past two years.
The policeman, Pol Snr Sgt-Major Manas Suapho, voluntarily surrendered and confessed his connection to drug traffickers. He also divulged that several other men in uniform were involved in delivering drugs all over Bangkok – the information has caused an uproar from high ranking police officials and members of the cabinet.
Operatives have been looking for Manas after he fled a police checkpoint in Ngao District on Monday. Police recovered 1.28 million yaba tablets and 5 kilograms of “ice” from his abandoned pick up truck.
At the station, Manas revealed that he received THB1 million to THB2.2 million for each delivery. Police did a background check and found that the the lowly junior cop had a house, condo, four cars, two motorcycles, gold jewelry and other valuables as well as land titles and a fat bank account. The assets came up to over THB20.61 million.
According to the police they have seized over THB77 million worth of assets from the drug ring that Manas belonged to. They supposedly take orders from a man called Hia Jai from Myanmar who instructs them to pick up drugs in Chiang Rai and deliver the goods to different locations in Bangkok. Police have also identified other members of the syndicate: Sathit and Buakhai Saenglah, Prathin and Suchada Tuaipa, as well as Rapin and Suthep Khamfaeng.
News of Manas’ surrender have reached the office of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung. The cabinet official was appalled at the involvement of a police officer in the drug trade. He and National police chief General Adul Saengsingkaew are calling for an investigation to see if Manas’ superiors should be held liable for his behavior.
Prachachuen Police Station officials however claimed that Manas did not exhibit signs of illegal activities. They noted that he would sometimes borrow money from his colleagues just like any other salaried cop would.
The dirty cop Manas for his part claimed that he remained a model employee even with his drug ties. He defended that never took a day off to do the drug deliveries. “I only did this during my free time,” the Nation reported.
