NAKHON PHANOM, Nov 19 (TNA) – Authorities in Thailand’s
northeastern Nakhon Phanom province have seized more than 500 kilograms of
marijuana smuggled into Thai soil from neighbouring Lao PDR.
Administrative officials and Mekong Riverine Unit of the
Royal Thai Navy intercepted the smuggling attempt.
Being tipped by an intelligence report, officials had
patrolled the river on the border of Thailand’s Nakhon Phanom province and
Lao’s Khammouane province until they spotted a boat with about eight men
approaching the riverbank on the Thai side.
As the men were unloading packages on the riverbank,
officials reached the group and ordered them to surrender. But all managed to escape.
At the press briefing, officers said they seized 538 bars of
compressed marijuana, three motorcycles and two pushcarts from the smugglers.
The high grade marijuana has estimated value of Bt10
million. Police believed it was just
cultivated and can fetch up to Bt20,000 per kilograms in Thailand.
Marijuana smuggling has soared in the recent week when Thai
authorities seized over two tons of cannabis. (TNA)
