Nakhon Phanom —
On November 8th, 2024, Nakhon Phanom police, along with local security forces, announced the arrest of a suspect and the seizure of over 56 kilograms of heroin and 121,000 methamphetamine pills during an operation in the Thao Uthen District.
The bust followed a tip-off about a drug shipment crossing the Mekong River from a neighboring country. The authorities set up surveillance along the riverbank, and when a suspicious fishing boat arrived, two men on a sidecar motorcycle were seen picking up two suspicious sacks.
Upon attempting to flee, one of the men, 59-year-old Sanguan, was caught, while his accomplice, 60-year-old Kalok, a Laotian national, managed to escape.
According to the officers, the drugs seized included 60 bundles of methamphetamine, totaling 121,000 pills, and 140 blocks of heroin, each weighing 400 grams.
Sanguan reportedly admitted later that he had been struggling financially and agreed to carry out the illegal task for 5,000 baht after being approached by Kalok, who had recently been released from prison for drug offenses.
Sanguan also confessed to using meth for some time, purchasing the drugs locally for 100 baht per pill. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working to track down Kalok.
According to the officers, since October 1st, 2024, Nakhon Phanom authorities have conducted 28 drug raids in the border district, arresting 53 individuals and seizing over 1 million meth pills, 56 kilograms of heroin, and other drugs.
