BANGLAMUNG, Chonburi
More than 140 officers from multiple agencies raided six locations across Banglamung district early Tuesday morning arresting multiple suspects in a major anti-drug operation responding directly to public complaints received via the 1386 hotline. This is part of a current 90 day campaign in the area to eradicate illegal drugs as we have discussed at length previously.
The operation, codenamed “1386 พิฆาตยาเสพติด” (1386 Destroy Drugs), was launched at 5:30 a.m. on July 21st, 2026. It was ordered by Isara Charoenchasri, Deputy Governor of Chonburi Province, along with key officials including Sarawut Phakdi, Director of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Region 2, and senior police commanders from Chonburi.
The coordinated sweep involved the ONCB Region 2, Provincial Police Region 2, Chonburi provincial administration, the 1st Naval Area Command, the Internal Security Operations Command, and the Provincial Public Health Office. Authorities used citizen tips submitted through the 1386 hotline as the primary intelligence source to identify suspected drug dens and individuals involved in narcotics activity.
Speaking at the launch, Sarawut Phakdi explained the operation’s direct response to public concerns.
“Every target came from information provided by the public through the 1386 hotline,” he said. “This shows that the government listens and acts seriously on every piece of information received.”
Phakdi instructed all personnel to adhere to three core principles: firmness and thoroughness in law enforcement and asset seizures to dismantle local drug networks; transparency and fairness in all procedures to maintain public trust; and safety, urging officers to operate with caution at all times.
During the raids, authorities arrested several suspects. In one key location in the Nong Mai Kaen community (Soi 12, behind Chang House, Nong Prue sub-district), officers detained three individuals:
– Ms. Kung, 41, with approximately 5 grams of crystal methamphetamine (ice) and 20 methamphetamine pills (yaba).
– Mr. Son, 42, with approximately 1 gram of ice.
– Mr. Bin, 24, with 300 methamphetamine pills and approximately 25 grams of ice.
In another target in Soi Phatthana Kan 4, Nong Prue sub-district, two individuals wanted on arrest warrants for using “horse accounts” (mule bank accounts) in drug-related crimes were apprehended, while a third suspect was caught in possession of drugs.
Additional users and possessors were arrested at other sites, bringing the total number of detentions higher. All suspects were taken into custody for legal proceedings, with drug users to be screened for rehabilitation under the “users are patients” policy.
The ONCB stated that the operation aligns with the government’s comprehensive anti-drug strategy under the slogan “Relieve suffering, promote well-being, protect public peace, destroy drugs, and defeat gangsters.” The approach combines aggressive suppression of trafficking networks with rehabilitation for users and encourages continued public participation through the 1386 hotline.
Officials indicated that further expansion of the operation, including asset seizures linked to drug trafficking, would continue in the area.
