Thai police step up drug crackdowns during Songkran festival (Photo: AFP/VNA)Bangkok (VNA) – Thai anti-narcotics police haveseized large quantities of drugs and arrested15 suspects in operations in northern and northeastern provinces between March28 andApril 4.
According to Pol Gen Chinnapat Sarasin,national deputy police chief, the 15 suspects have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges. They are members of sixdrug trafficking networks, responsible for smuggling illegal narcotics from the North and Northeast to central and Thai southern provinces.
Hesaid that most of the drugs were concealed in cars and, in practice, policecannot search every car and focus instead on those about which they havereceived information or tip-offs.
Chinnapat added that police have beeninstructed to be more vigilant and increase searches of cars during the Songkranfestival, noting that drug traffickers commonly seize the opportunity to stepup their trafficking activities, as he urged motorists to have patience withany inconvenience caused by increased searches.
The seized drugs included 12kg of heroin, 9kg of crystal meth and 2kg of ketamine. Several vehicles were also confiscated./.
