Acting on orders from Thalang district chief Wira Kerdsirmongkol, Thalang volunteers defence clerks Mr Siripong Leeprasit and Mr Danai Jai Kaeng took official credit for the suspect’s arrest, and seizure of the firearm.
According to a report addressed to Phuket Governor Nisit Junsomwong, officers had received a tip-off that the suspect – named as Mr Siripop Jaitrong, a 35 year old resident of Trang but living in Phuket’s Pakkhlok – was suspected of dealing drugs, which he was though to be smuggling onto the island via the Pakklok Post Office in Moo 8.
Police yesterday morning staked out the suspect as he arrived to post office in a blue Isuzu pickup truck, and after seeing him exit the facility with four white packages, intercepted him, presenting themselves.
According to the report, the suspect immediately admitted that the contents of the four packages were the illegal kratom plant, a delivery which police said weighed 5,500 grams.
Cuffed, the suspect then led police to his residence in Pakklok’s Moo 2 community, where a subsequent police search yielded a black Smith and Wesson a loaded, 5-round .38 calibre revolver with a matching holster, but not with the required permit.
Mr Siripong was charged with possession of a firearm without a permit and for possession of a schedule 5 drug.