Though some people think the police checkpoints set up around the city are not the best use of officers’ time, one set up Monday night on Baromratchachonnani Road in Taweewatana helped police make a major drug bust.
Police arrested a man and his tuk-tuk driver for possession of THB20 million worth of yaba.
At the checkpoint near the Mazda dealership, police officers noticed a tuk-tuk slow down and then park before reaching their station. They became suspicious and approached the vehicle. Both men inside began shaking.
When police inspected a large bag in the back, they discovered 100,000 yaba tablets separated into 50 packets. The street value of the pills is THB20 million, according to Thairath.
Passenger Witsanu Banthajit, of Samut Sakorn, and driver Wirat Plikklam, 46, of Ayuthaya, were arrested and charged with possession of Class One drugs with intent to sell.
Witsanu claimed the drugs and confessed that he had the driver pick them up under a footbridge in Nonthaburi. He admitted that he hired Wirat to help him deliver the drugs to Samut Sakorn.
For doing the delivery, he was supposed to be paid THB100,000 and had promised to give THB30,000 to Wirat.
He claimed it was the first time he had transported drugs and that he needed the money to care for his three children.
The officers who set up the checkpoint were praised by acting police chief Sanit Mahathavorn, who said that their success only proves that the checkpoints are useful.
