The Office of the Narcotics Control Board has expanded its investigation into the transnational drug-trafficking network led by alleged kingpin “Sia Jiw”, arresting two military officers.
Pol Lt Gen Suriya Singhakamol, secretary-general of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), announced the second phase of “Operation Cut Off the Malignancy”, targeting state officials linked to narcotics networks.
As part of the operation, authorities have arrested a lieutenant colonel attached to the defence permanent secretary’s office on charges of money laundering, as well as another senior officer from a special warfare unit who stands accused of transporting drugs into Thailand.
The investigation traces back to December 2024 when troops from the Chao Tak Task Force intercepted a suspicious pickup truck in Chiang Rai, seizing 1.4 tonnes of crystal methamphetamine. Data retrieved from a confiscated mobile phone helped investigators identify the alleged mastermind as a convicted drug trafficker known as “Sia Jiw”.
After serving a prison sentence, Sia Jiw allegedly changed his actual name and posed as a senior military officer to evade scrutiny, resuming involvement in cross-border drug trafficking.
On Feb 12, the ONCB and provincial police raided locations across Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Nonthaburi and Bangkok. Arrested were Sirinda, the wife of Sia Jiw; a logistics provider; and a senior officer from a special warfare unit.
Further financial investigation revealed suspicious-looking transfers of several million baht to a lieutenant colonel and his wife.
On Wednesday, authorities arrested a senior officer identified only as Lt Col Pan, attached to the permanent secretary’s office, and his wife in Bangkok.
Pol Lt Gen Suriya said that although Sia Jiw remains at large, the arrests have “cut off key financial and operational lifelines” of the network.
