The operation followed the discovery of 76 kilograms of marijuana hidden in a nearby wooded area on Monday night.

The search started at 6am and failed to find any drugs or other illegal items.

A man identified only as “Bang Mhad”, who is suspected to have hidden the marijuana in the wooded area, was last seen on March 22.

Patrol and Special Operation Division chief Pol Maj-General Surachet Hakpan led the team that searched the wooded area on Monday.

The search stemmed from a recent crackdown on a Bangkok-based gang that brazenly sold marijuana online.

The crackdown resulted the arrest of Kanchai Reuksaensuk, 31, and Sakao Yanprai, 30, as well as the seizure of eight guns, more than 60 rounds of ammunition, 35 kilograms of marijuana, 1,000 “yaba” pills and 60 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice”.

Kanchai confessed to having sold marijuana via a Facebook page, after using a profile picture of an innocent Thai model without her permission to attract customers.

He also confessed to using an online cosmetics retailer’s postal tracking numbers to boost his customers’ confidence in his delivery method.