UBON RATCHATHANI: Three men are in custody after authorities seized 250,000 speed pills and some crystal methamphetamine following a car chase early Saturday.
A team of police and soldiers spotted a suspicious car with Bangkok licence plates travelling through Nong Khoon village in Khemarat district of the northeastern province at about 4am and signalled the driver to stop, but he refused and sped off.
The team gave chase and forced the car to stop at a bridge in the village after one officer managed to fire shots into its left front tyre. Officers then moved in to arrest three men inside the car.
The trio were identified as Mongkhol Kaewthongdee, 40; Itthiphon Sarnthor, 20; and Apichai Saiseeda, 29, all from Ubon Ratchathani. Seized from the car were 258,000 speed pills and 1.2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine.
They have been charged with possessing illicit drugs with intent to sell, resisting and trying to kill on-duty officers, Thai media reported.
The arrest team then searched the houses of the three suspects in Na Tan district and seized their assets, including 17 bank accounts, a car, a motorcycle, gold ornaments and other valuable items.
Pol Col Sanit Chaiyasathit, investigation chief of Ubon Ratchathani police, said the suspects confessed to having smuggled the drugs from a neigbhouring country. The drugs were destined for a network member in Roi Et, he added.
