LAMPANG: Three drug detainees who escaped while being taken to the provincial court for the first hearing of witnesses on Thursday morning have been recaptured after a massive manhunt.
Before the escape, police took the trio -- Jue Sae Lao, Kang Sae Lao and Veeraphon Worachanpensri -- to the Lampang provincial court. While getting off from a prison vehicle to enter the court in Muang district via the back door, the three shackled men ran to a nearby forest behind the court.
The three escapees were earlier caught in Thoen district of this northern province on Nov 19 last year with 900,000 speed pills seized from them.
More than 200 police were deployed to hunt down the escapees. Two of them -- Jue and Kang -- were recaptured shortly later. They were found separately about 1km from the court.
A hunt continued for Veeraphon, the third escapee. The hunt team distributed copies of Veeraphon's photo to several agencies and local leaders to provide clues about his hideout.
At around noon, police received a tipoff that the escapee was in hiding in Wat Mon Phraya Chae's compound, about 5km away from the court. The officers later managed to recapture him almost four hours after his escape.
After being caught, Veeraphon, who looked exhausted and thirsty, said he stole some clothes from a local resident to wrap around his feet so he could walk in the forests.
All three men were taken to the provincial court. Police will press additional charges against them.
