BANGKOK, Oct 16 (TNA) — Authorities arrested four people who allegedly trafficked drugs and laundered money for a drug racket and related assets worth about 100 million baht were seized in Samut Prakan province.
Soldiers, police and officials from the Anti-Money Laundering Office, the Revenue Department and the United States’ Drug Enforcement Administration raided house number 129/72 in Chaiyapruek housing estate in Bang Muang sub-district of Muang district in Samut Prakan.
There they seized 18 million baht in cash, nine luxury cars and other assets worth altogether about 100 million baht.
Authorities suspected the assets were acquired with money generated from illicit drug trafficking by a “Man Took Met” gang led Pannawit “Ko Kae” Prathum who fled to a neighboring country but continued to direct the illicit business in Thailand.
The racket sold illicit drugs via social media and buyers transferred money to suspect Sakchai Kantai.
The raid in Samut Prakan was based on information from the arrest of Mongkol Homnan with 500,000 speed pills recently. The suspect identified Mr Sakchai as a recipient of drug money.
Authorities found that the bank accounts of Mr Sakchai and associates recording money transactions worth about 1 billion baht. The suspects allegedly ran online gambling businesses to launder drug money.
Other arrested suspects in the case were identified as Wimol Chuenchomwatthana, Naruepol Pappitee and Patama Buathong. (TNA)
