Natthawat Lert-ariyathanakul, who was arrested in Pathum Thani’s Thanyaburi district yesterday, was accused of funding illicit drug smuggling from the North for distribution in Bangkok and nearby provinces. He was running a construction business and rented apartments as a cover, police say. Sirinya said Natthawat’s network was among the 60 major drug-trafficking rings targeted by the ONCB.

Natthawat plus Waraporn Lert-ariyathanakul, Somporn Srisangkhom, Weerapol Saemu and Somchai Laosin were initially charged for conspiring to deal drugs. Police froze Bt4 million in 17 bank accounts and also seized various assets including 18 cashier cheques worth Bt1.5 million, 13 properties worth Bt100 million, 14 cars worth Bt15 million, 16 trucks and backhoes worth Bt50 million plus other valuables and cash.

Provincial Police Region 5 deputy commissioner Pol Maj-General Prayat Boonsri said the fifth regional police had previously made five drug busts linked to Natthawat’s alleged 30-strong drug ring, including the arrest in January of 10 suspects with 398,000 ‘yaba’ pills and three kilograms of “ice” in Chiang Mai‘s Muang district.