CHONBURI, Thailand — Officers from Banglamung Police Station arrested two men on Thursday in a sting operation targeting a methamphetamine trafficking network in Chonburi province, seizing large quantities of drugs and firearms.
Police Colonel Sarawut Nuchnart, superintendent of Bang Lamung Police Station, together with Police Lt. Col. Suphawat Latthapreecha, Police Lt. Col. Pakorn Muensikhiao and Police Senior Sgt. Maj. Aphinan Srithongrungthip, said the suspects were identified as Phuphadol “Arm” Tomklan, 34, from Bowin, and Suradek “Tum” Khonkit, 33, from Nakhon Si Thammarat.
The pair were arrested in Sriracha district. Officers seized 8,162 methamphetamine tablets, 214.73 grams of crystal methamphetamine, a Remington long-barreled shotgun with 18 rounds of 12-gauge ammunition, and a Zoraki M-cob-T pistol with .380-caliber ammunition.
The operation began after an informant reported that Arm was dealing drugs. The informant arranged to buy 30 grams of crystal meth for 10,000 baht. Arm also offered 2,000 methamphetamine tablets for 25,000 baht and proposed a “promotion” allowing the buyer to take the drugs first and pay later.
The exchange was set for a location beside a gas station in Sriracha. Officers staged an ambush nearby. The suspects arrived on a motorcycle carrying the drugs and parked beside a car in which undercover officers were waiting with the informant.
After the informant confirmed the sellers’ identities, officers moved in. The suspects tried to flee but were surrounded and detained. A search of Arm turned up the drugs. He admitted they belonged to him and said he had obtained them from Tum.
A follow-up search of a residence and the motorcycle uncovered more than 60 additional grams of crystal methamphetamine and more than 6,000 methamphetamine tablets packed in zip-lock bags for both retail and wholesale sale, along with the shotgun and ammunition. Both men confessed that the items were theirs.
The suspects and the seized evidence were handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings.
