1.7 Tonnes of Crystal Meth Bound for Bangkok Found in Road Tanker
1.7 Tonnes of Crystal Meth Bound for Bangkok Found in Road Tanker
PHITSANULOK, June 1, 2026 — Thai police have seized 1.737 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine and 50 kilograms of ketamine hidden inside a road tanker, arresting three suspected traffickers in one of the country’s largest recent narcotics seizures.
The operation took place on May 29 in Don Thong subdistrict of Mueang Phitsanulok district after investigators tracked a suspected drug shipment moving south from Chiang Rai province toward Bangkok. Authorities estimate the seized narcotics have a street value exceeding 200 million baht.
The arrests were announced on Saturday by senior Royal Thai Police officials, including Deputy Commissioner-General Pol Gen Samran Nuanma and Metropolitan Police Bureau Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Sayam Boonsom.
Investigators said intelligence gathered during an ongoing probe into a Bangkok-based trafficking network indicated that a major shipment of narcotics was being transported from northern Thailand to storage locations in Bangkok and nearby provinces before distribution.
Police launched surveillance along the In Buri–Chiang Mai Road and identified a suspicious tanker travelling with a silver escort vehicle believed to be acting as a lookout. Officers intercepted both vehicles and discovered the drugs concealed inside the tanker.
The suspects were identified as Witya, 30, who was driving the tanker, and Pongsak, 44, and Anucha, 38, who were travelling in the escort vehicle. Investigators allege the pair were responsible for guiding the shipment and monitoring the route.
According to police, Pongsak admitted collecting the drugs in Chiang Rai for delivery to a major trafficker operating in the Central Region. Authorities said the group was promised 600,000 baht for transporting the narcotics, while the escort vehicle operators were to receive 250,000 baht.
Police further stated that the suspects admitted carrying out similar trafficking operations on three previous occasions before being apprehended during the latest shipment.
The three men have been charged with possession of a Category 1 narcotic, methamphetamine, with intent to distribute for commercial purposes, and possession of a Category 2 controlled substance, ketamine, with intent to distribute.
Authorities have transferred the suspects and evidence to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for further legal proceedings. Investigators are continuing efforts to identify additional members of the trafficking network and trace the intended recipients of the drugs.
The seizure marks another significant blow against transnational drug trafficking routes linking northern Thailand with distribution networks in Bangkok and other major urban centers.
