At 11:30pm yesterday, Thalang officials led by Thalang District Deputy, Danai Jaikhang; local district Administration Officer (Palad), Siripong Leeprasit, narcotic control officers, territorial defence volunteers and Khok Kloi police arrested six people who were found to be in possession of a total of 326 kilos of kratom leaves at the Baiyang Resort in Khok Kloi, Phang Nga.
Officials also seized from the six eight mobile phones.
The arrests came after Thalang district defence officials and Tha Chatchai police on Sunday night (Aug 21) stopped a vehicle at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint due to its driver and passenger acting suspiciously.
Upon checking the vehicle nothing untoward was found. However, police decided to take the two men back to the station for questioning.
After six hours of questioning, one of the men told officials that his job was to lead a drug delivery vehicle to make sure it passed through the checkpoint. Police were told that the vehicle was waiting for the okay at a resort in Khok Kloi.
Mr Danai said, “We contacted Khok Kloi police who found the four other suspects at the resort with many bags of kratom leaves in the room.
“All six admitted that they bought the kratom from Malaysia were taking it to Phuket where they would sell it for B1,000 per kilo,” he said.
All six were taken to Khok Kloi Police Station to face the charge of possession of a Category 5 drug with intent to sell.