A FORMER drug convict who served a lengthy jail term before being set free was again arrested for transporting 20 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine (Ice) from Chiang Rai to Phitsanulok province, Amarin TV reported this morning (Nov. 26, 2020).
The suspect, Mr. Jang Tokampang, 58, told police the economic downturn brought on by Covid-19 pandemic forced him to again run drugs.
Pol. Lt. Col. Worapong Kamlue, deputy head of Provincial Police Region 5 Investigation Division, and his team set up a checkpoint in Mae Yen sub-district, Phan district of this northern province after a detective alerted them that there would be a drug smuggling attempt.
Later when Jang drove up in a Rayong-registered grey pickup truck, which matched the description given by the detective, police quickly stopped him and searched the rear of the vehicle where they found the 20kg Ice, worth over 80 million baht, neatly stacked and covered with canvas.
Jang later told police that upon being released in 2015 after 16 years in jail he turned to working honestly by operating a vegetable delivery service in his home province Phitsanulok.
However the coronavirus pandemic hit him hard forcing him to turn to drug smuggling again. For this drug run he was to be paid 100,000 baht by a drug dealer in Phitsanulok but was instead arrested.
Police are expanding their investigation of this drug network.
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Top: The arrested drug suspect talking to police with the seized drug inset. Photo: Amarin TV
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