Ayutthaya police seized thousands of methamphetamine pills and made over two dozen arrests in a series of raids on suspected drug traffickers yesterday.
The Provincial Police Bureau 1 launched the crackdown, which involved 23 teams of 506 police, after receiving a tip-off that 22 suspects were using Ayutthaya province as their base for the drug trade in Bangkok.
Police seized 70 packages containing a total of 140,000 methamphetamine pills from a rented house in tambon Chiang Rak Noi of Bang Pa-in.
The bust followed the arrest of four suspects earlier in Bangkok where a drug-producing machine was confiscated and 28,000 speed pills were seized along with 940g of crystal methamphetamine, or ya ice.
In Wang Noi district, police arrested Somchai Thanongchid, Mirantee Thida and Thongchai Amnuaypanich at a house. They were wanted on arrest warrants issued on drug charges.
Pol Lt Gen Nares Nanthachote, chief of Provincial Police Region 1, said the raid had been planned three months in advance.
The operation was carried out in collaboration with local police and related investigation units. The targeted locations were thought to be part of a network of drug gangs active in many provinces, including Bangkok, Suphan Buri and Si Sa Ket, the Bangkok Post reported.
