Group of three apprehended for possessing 450 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine
In a bold move by the authorities, three drug runners were nabbed and a staggering 450 kilograms of crystal meth were seized following a high-speed chase in Nong Khai province. The trio, named Prasobsuk, Thongthawat, and Chalanthorn, hailing from Khon Kaen, were apprehended after their vehicles breezed past a police checkpoint in Tha Bo district.
The arrest happened after a year-long surveillance of these suspects and their associates by intelligence officers. They had observed that the gang frequently rented cars from various rental shops to smuggle drugs. Investigators soon found out that this gang aimed to transport vast quantities of crystal meth from Bueng Kan through Nong Khai and Khon Kaen, all the way to Bangkok. Officers were dispatched to maintain vigil on the drug smuggling route.
Spotting three suspicious cars approaching the checkpoint, police flagged them down. However, the drivers took off, leading the cops on a chase. The three vehicles were eventually stopped, and three men were arrested, while three others managed to escape.
According to Pol Maj Gen Kittisak Plathong, commander of Border Patrol Police Region 2, the three suspects confessed to being hired for 300,000 baht to ferry the drugs and were also given some ecstasy pills embossed with a Labubu character for personal use.
The crystal meth bust in Nong Khai isn't an isolated incident. This province seems to be a crucial hub for organized drug trafficking networks, with recent high-profile seizures and cross-provincial connections. For instance, a 450kg crystal meth bust on May 1, 2025, involved three couriers transporting drugs from Bueng Kan through Nong Khai to Bangkok. The multifarious transportation routes of these drugs indicate their origin from border areas like Bueng Kan and movement through northeastern provinces like Khon Kaen before reaching Bangkok[1][2][4].
Moreover, recent operations including a 261kg seizure in Songkhla (April 29) tied to Thai-Malaysian networks and a Phuket plantation raid (April 21), suggest a multi-provincial distribution of drugs[3][4]. The government has recognized the gravity of this issue, as evidenced by a meeting chaired by the Prime Minister in Nakhon Phanom addressing cross-border drug trafficking, emphasizing the need for regional coordination in the Mekong area[5].
Smugglers often prefer to rent vehicles and use secondary highways to avoid checkpoints, with Nong Khai serving as a key link between Laos and central Thailand[1][5]. While large hauls indicate significant throughput, ongoing interdictions suggest that drug smuggling remains a persistent challenge. Keep an eye out for further developments in the war against drug trafficking.
- The arrested drug runners, Prasobsuk, Thongthawat, and Chalanthorn, were caught smuggling 450 kilograms of crystal meth in a high-speed chase through Nong Khai province, a crucial hub for organized drug trafficking networks.
- Investigators are closely monitoring the drug smuggling route from Bueng Kan to Bangkok, observing how the gang used rented cars for smuggling operations and suspecting their association with other crime-and-justice networks.
- The government has recognized the severity of the drug smuggling issue and urged for regional coordination in the Mekong area, as the arrest of Prasobsuk and his associates and the subsequent crystal meth seizure in Nong Khai serves as a reminder of the persistent challenge posed by drug smugglers.
