Monday, 17 January 2011

Cambodian drug smugglers bummer border crossing


via CAAI


A group of Cambodians, including a man trying to sell a stash of 500 yaba pills secreted in his anus, were arrested following an undercover police operation in Sattahip.

Investigation officials from Sattahip Police Station continue to show the extent of efforts to halt the narcotics trade with the latest arrests, including a Cambodian man attempting to sell 500 yaba pills that he had smuggled across the border hidden in his anus. According to police officials, over 5 million pills have been smuggled into Thailand from Cambodia using this same method.

14th January 2011 [PDN]: At 01.30am Police General Somchai Suntawanid, Sattahip Police Station, Chonburi; Police Lieutenant Siamrat Rungruean; and Police Major Barus Samarot, along with the head of the investigation team in Sattahip, were notified by an undercover agent that a drug deal with a Cambodian drug smuggler had been arranged. The smuggler, who lived in Cambodia close to the Thai border province of Sra Gaew, had offered to sell the illegal narcotic to the undercover agent for 115 baht/pill. Police officials directed the agent to order 500 pills for the amount of 57,500 Baht and arranged for the exchange to be made in front of the Lotus department store, Sukhumvit Road, Moo 2 Sattahip, Chonburi.

Police officials then sent in a team of troops to hide in the surrounding area. At the designated time a gray Toyota Vigo pick-up truck (license no. บต -6780 Sra Gaew) arrived and police officers swooped in and arrested all 7 passengers. The arrested suspects were Mr. Nuapong Wongwichai (or Gai, 29, owner of the pick-up and residing at: 69 Moo 4 Latakian, Gabintonburi, Brajinburi), Mr. Jongruk Wpngpuang (or Ruk, 43, residing at 59 Moo 2, Chai Narai, Chai Badan, Lopburi), Mr Tee Too (20, from Cambodia), Mr Salo (25, from Cambodia), Ms. Liworn (28, from Cambodia), Ms. Liwslad (26, from Cambodia), and Chai (7, from Cambodia). Further investigation by police officials revealed that Mr Tee Too had hidden the 500 pills in his anus. Police officials then had the unenviable task of using their hands to retrieve the secreted drugs. The pills were found to be separated into 2 bags of 250 pills each and wrapped with black tape and covered in a condom.

When interrogated by police, Mr. Tee Too, the dealer, admitted smuggling ‘yaba’ across the border using a forest at Tamphraya, Sra Gaew and hiding the drugs up his anus. He had hired a driver to bring in the drugs for 1,800 Baht and on this trip he was joined by 2 of his Cambodian friends in order to smuggle in another 500 pills. However the 2 friends were dropped off at Saemsarn, Sattahip, prior to Mr. Tee Too being caught and arrested. Mr. Tee Too further admitted that he had smuggled in drugs up his anus more than 10 times already. He estimated that he and his friends were responsible for smuggling in more than 5 million pills already.

Mr. Nuapong (Gai), the driver, said a woman named Nid, or Janid (real name and surname unknown) offered to hire him to drive 13 Cambodians in the Taphraya district, Sra Gaew province, for the price of 2,500 Baht. Mr Jongrak (Rak) was hired for 1,000 Baht to navigate. On the way they dropped off 7 Cambodians at Wangjan and Pluekdaeng, Rayong province, and 2 more at Samaesarn, Sattahip, Chonburi. The remaining drug smugglers were dropped off at Lotus, Sattahip. Mr Nuapong stated that he was unaware that the Cambodians had drugs hidden in their bodies.

Police Major Barus Samarot said that there are still many other Cambodians prepared to cross the border into Thailand, smuggling in ‘yaba’ pills hidden in their anus, which was difficult for immigration authorities to check. A different way for Cambodians to smuggle in drugs was through the forest which leads to Taphraya, Sra Gaew. A Thai driver would then be arranged to pick them up and travel along Namchaiket road, Srasernsrao, where there are no police boxes or checkpoints. This area of Chong Saemsarn, Sattahip is fast becoming an easy route for smuggling of drugs and people from Cambodia. Police Major Barus promised to increase police activity and to rid the area of drugs.

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