Ex-prison warden held over drug charges
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Police arrested a former warden of a Nakhon Si Thammarat prison, which is known for its drug-dealing activities, his wife and a female suspect on Wednesday night.
Natthaphon Raya, 37, is one of the three former wardens previously fired for allegedly being involved in supplying inmates with drugs and mobile phones. Nakhon Si Thammarat police also nabbed Natthaphon’s wife Phornrujee Raya, 36, and Sakaoduan Thipkaeo, 25.
It is believed that a drug-dealing network hired Sakaoduan to open bank accounts for money laundering, Nakhon Si Thammarat police chief Maj-General Ronnapong Saikaeo said yesterday.
Police also seized the couple’s assets yesterday morning, including a townhouse worth Bt1.6 million, a house worth Bt3.4 million and luxurious furnishings, three cars worth Bt3.5 million, bank deposits of Bt6 million as well as guns.
Ronnapong said police also hunted down five other suspects who were allegedly part of the drug network. Arrest warrants had been issued against all eight of the suspects, who were caught in Khanom, Hua Sai, Chawang and Muang districts of the province and seized assets worth tens of millions of baht.
Reports said police were in the process of seeking arrest warrants for another 15 suspects, including incumbent and former wardens as well as people outside the prison. Police expect the court to issue the warrants in a couple of days.
