Millions in assets linked to drug gang

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The Department of Special Investigations (DSI) has detected assets worth Bt100 million linked to a suspected drug-trafficking ring in follow-up work with the Office of Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) after a recent search at Rayong Provincial Prison, the DSI's chief of operations in the Eastern region said yesterday.

DSI officials had sought search warrants for 22 targeted locations and arrest warrants for six suspects and prepared a combined unit to search the sites, according to Pravit Chaibuadaeng. He said they expect the DSI would be able to seize an even bigger sum - possibly Bt300 million worth of assets allegedly acquired by the drug network.

Corrections Department chief Suchat Wong-anantachai reported yesterday that the shifting of about 300 drug inmates from jails around the country, including 80 from Songkhla Prison, to Ratchaburi's Khao Bin Prison had gone well.

The department would take some time to assess the efficiency of a system to block cell-phones to prevent inmates communicating with outsiders and organising drug deals. He said all prisons were instructed to strictly conduct unannounced searches of cells for prohibited items especially phones. Khao Bin was very strict and the latest search found only one phone. By comparison, about 100 phones had been found in the last search at Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi, he added.

In regard to a suggestion by Public Sector Anti-Corruption Commission secretary-general Dusadee Arayawuth that guards be made to undergo lie detector tests and urine tests for substance abuse at targeted prisons, Suchat said the matter was sensitive and might affect the morale of decent officials. So, these things would not be done at random - they would be based on intelligence and conducted on individuals who behaved in a suspicious way, such as spending beyond their means.

In related news, police on Friday night arrested a female retired colonel, Atcharaporn Tipayanont, 56, at her home in Udon Thani's Muang district, along with 490 'ya ba' tablets, Bt108,700 in cash, 200 plastic bags for retailing 'ya ba', and three cell-phones. Three men and two women who were taking 'ya ba' there were also arrested.

Atcharaporn allegedly confessed to police that the 'ya ba' and cash were hers. She claimed she did not sell drugs but only gave the 'ya ba' to some relatives to consume while playing cards. She said she got the drug for free from a former supervisor in Lop Buri.

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Edited February 11, 2012 by FarangFarang