Two men were arrested and 450,000 methamphetamine pills seized in separate drug stops in Ubon Ratchathani province, police said
Two cars travelling along Det Udom-Warin Chamlap Road in Det Udom district were signalled to stop for a search by police following up a tipoff.
They arrested Anucha Boonyuen, driver of a black Suzuki car, after they found a small amount of methamphetamine in the vehicle.
The second vehicle, a white Honda sedan driven by a woman, evaded police and fled, Pol Maj Gen Khirisak Tantinawachai, deputy chief of Provincial Police Region 3, told reporters.
Mr Anucha led arresting officers to a forested area in Lao Sue Kok district, where 250,000 meth pills were seized.
Mr Anucha allegedly confessed he and the fleeing woman driver, identified only as Kamolchanok, were smuggling illicit drugs. His job was to deliver the pills to locations ordered by Ms Kamolchanok.
On Tuesday evening, Chantha Thanit, 33, of Ubon Ratchathani, was arrested with 200,000 meth pills and some crystal methamphetamine in Khemarat district, Pol Maj Gen Khirisak said.
The arrest was made after police spotted two men with two bulky fertiliser sacks on a motorcycle travelling on a local road in Huai Yang village of tambon Khemarat. When signalled to stop the two men abandoned the bike and their load and fled into roadside forest.
The sacks contained 200,000 meth pills and two small bags of crystal meth.
The pillion rider, Mr Chantha, was caught.
During questioning, Mr Chantha allegedly said the drugs were smuggled by a Lao man who left them on the bank of the Mekong River. He and his friend were being paid 5,000 baht each to collect and deliver them.
Both arrested men were held in police custody for legal action on drug charges.
