Speaking at the press conference, held at the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) Operations Center in the capital, Admiral Pairoj praised the coordinated effort that led to the seizure of more than half a tonne of crystal meth from the Thai-flagged vessel “Elixir’ last Wednesday (Sept 24),
The operation demonstrated the effectiveness of accurate maritime intelligence and close inter-agency cooperation in protecting Thailand’s seas from transnational crime, he said.
“This interception proves that the MECC will not allow the Thai seas to be used as a route for transnational crime,” he added “This arrest not only uncovers a massive amount of drugs but also cuts off the lifeblood of the international trafficking network that attempted to use the sea as a gateway.”
The bust followed a joint operation in which officers boarded and searched the ‘Elixir’ while it was moored in Chalong Bay. On board they discovered 502kg of crystal meth, more than 600g of ketamine and a large quantity of packaging and transport equipment, Adm Pairoj confirmed.
Three suspects were taken into custody, he noted.
Not mentioned at the press conference was that the boat’s captain, a 61-year-old Myanmar national known as ‘Captain Bat’, died after jumping overboard in an attempt to evade arrest.
Vice Admiral Suwat Donsakul, Director of the Thai MECC Region 3 branch and Commander of the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command, both based at Cape Panwa, authorised the mission, which was led by Thai MECC 3 Deputy Director Rear Admiral Phuchong Rodnikorn. Thai MECC 3 Chief of Staff Capt Kongkrit Pholying and Capt Sophon Tangwitmonai of Phuket Marine Police Region 3 assisted in the operation.
The raid was the result of a “fully integrated maritime strategy combining intelligence gathering and on-site enforcement”, the press conference was told.
Key agencies involved included the Royal Thai Navy’s 3rd Naval Area Command, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Royal Thai Police, Provincial Police Region 5, the Navy’s Intelligence Division, and Ranong Provincial Police. Intelligence units worked together to track the vessel before the boarding team moved in to make the arrests, Admiral Pairoj explained.
He described the seizure as one of the largest drug hauls in the region this year and a significant blow to an international trafficking network believed to be using southern Thai waters as a transit route.
“This successful seizure of a massive quantity of drugs significantly disrupts the drug trafficking network with international connections,” Admiral Pairoj said.
As is standard with all Thai MECC 3 reports, it was explained that Thai MECC 3 stood strong in its commitment to safeguarding Thailand’s maritime interests and urged the public to report any emergencies or suspicious maritime activity by calling its 24-hour hotline at 1465.