‘Premium grade’ marijuana from Laos seized in Nakhon Phanom
The drug mules managed to flee, but a joint force of provincial officials, police and Navy troops on Tuesday night seized 466 kilograms of “premium-grade” marijuana and a pickup truck in Nakhon Phanom.
Nakhon Phanom Deputy Governor Damrong Siriwichai-Imwiset, Vice Admiral Pisit Thongdeelert, commander of Mekong Peacekeeping Command, and the province’s deputy police chief, Pol Col Paladej Phetcharawango, told reporters about the operation on Wednesday.
Acting on a tip-off, officials staked out a location along the Mekong River opposite Laos in Ban Sai Mool, That Phanom district.
Three men arrived in a long-tailed boat and unloaded bags onto the riverbank.
When the pickup arrived at 9.20pm, the team advanced, but the suspects fled in the dark, leaving behind the shipment and the truck bearing a Bangkok licence plate.
On the riverbank were nine bags containing 448 bricks of compressed marijuana, weighing 466 kilograms in total.
Authorities believe the ganja was top grade because of the neat packaging.