NSB reveals meth pill haul

The Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) seized more than 380 million methamphetamine, or ya ba, pills in the 2024 fiscal year that ended on Monday, according to a report.
Commissioner Pol Lt Gen Khirisak Tantinvachai said the total meant that the NSB had managed to seize 137 million more meth pills than in the 2023 fiscal year, up 56%. The seized amount accounts for 41% of meth pills confiscated by the whole of the Royal Thai Police in the 2024 fiscal year.
The drugs were seized in sting operations aimed at tackling more than 100 drug networks, in which 729 suspects were arrested — 518 more than in the previous fiscal year.
The NSB also seized more than 4 billion baht’s worth of assets acquired by the suspects through drug money, said Pol Lt Gen Khirisak.
Regarding border suppression efforts, Pol Lt Gen Khirisak said that the NSB was involved in 90 successful cases against major dealers, or those having at least 500,000 methamphetamines pills, an 87% rise over the last year.
Of the 380 million meth pills seized, 361 million were intercepted near borders.
One of the biggest cases took place on April 20 this year, in which at least 14 million pills were seized at the border in Mae Taeng district of Chiang Mai.
It was part of an NSB suppression operation named “100 [Drug] Networks Hunting,” said Pol Lt Gen Khirisak.
Pol Lt Gen Khirisak said another major seizure known as Operation Poseidon took place on Dec 4, 2023.
Operation Poseidon involved a major drug trafficking ring led by a captain of a commercial ship who has yet to be named. The NSB seized 1.2 tonnes of ketamine and almost a tonne of ya ice, plus assets worth 140 million baht.
Also seized were 90 tonnes of toluene, a clear, colourless liquid that is often used in drug production, at Laem Chabang Pier on July 12, said Pol Lt Gen Khirisak.