Birthday drug party bust nets 128,000 pills

2026-02-25 - 10:53

UDON THANI — 25 February 2026, Police have arrested nine people at a birthday party drug gathering and seized 128,000 methamphetamine pills along with assets worth about 2.2 million baht, officials said on Wednesday. At a 11:30 news conference outside the Udon Thani Provincial Police headquarters, Deputy Governor Phisit Chai Apaiyagul and senior police officers announced the arrests. Those detained were identified by police only by their nicknames and ages: Frame, 28; Phu, 22; Jay, 20; Pongphisit, 20; Pongphon, 28; Patcharita, 29; Nattreeya, 30; Ek, 30; and Art, 35. Seized items included 128,000 methamphetamine tablets, 11 packets of ketamine weighing 57.77 grammes, 16 packets of collagen mixed with methamphetamine, four ketamine vape pods and 10 mobile phones. Authorities also confiscated assets including a white Honda City registered in Bangkok, an orange four-door Ford Ranger pickup registered in Bangkok, a black Honda Lead motorcycle, a one-baht-weight gold necklace, a gold ring weighing one salung, 40,000 baht in cash and 345,460 baht held in bank accounts. The total value was estimated at 2.2 million baht. Police said the operation began on the night of 24 February, when investigators received information that Frame was selling methamphetamine within Udon Thani municipality. Frame was then used in a sting operation to arrange a drug purchase from a major local dealer known as Yai. Instead, Yai allegedly sent Phu to deliver the drugs. Phu was arrested with five packets of ketamine weighing 33.77 grammes, 12 packets of collagen, 70 grammes of a brown powder resembling cocaine and one ketamine vape pod. While Phu was in custody, Yai allegedly telephoned instructing him to deliver three more packets of collagen mixed with methamphetamine to a rented house in Udon Thani municipality. Police posed as Phu and carried out the delivery, while officers lay in wait near a convenience store close to the property. A woman came out to receive the drugs and pay for them, prompting officers to move in and search the house. Inside, they found 16 men and women gathered. Officers seized four packets of ketamine weighing 5.73 grammes, three packets of collagen mixed with methamphetamine and three ketamine vape pods. All were taken to a police station for questioning and urine testing. Five tested positive for drug use. Jay admitted the drugs were his and said he had ordered them from Yai for a birthday celebration at the rented house, but claimed they had not yet been consumed before police arrived. Those who tested positive had used drugs earlier, police said. Assets belonging to Jay, including a pickup truck and a mobile phone worth about 947,000 baht, were seized. Those who tested negative were recorded and released. Further investigation led police to Ek, who was alleged to have contacted foreign nationals and, together with Art, used a car to distribute methamphetamine. A search of Ek’s condominium uncovered Art and 128,000 methamphetamine pills. Both were charged with joint possession of a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell. Police seized four mobile phones, a car, gold jewellery, 40,000 baht in cash and bank deposits worth about 1 million baht for further legal proceedings.