Sor Ming's gang raided
DRUG RING FOUND WITH HUGE CASHFLOW
COMBINED SECURITY TEAMS launched raids at 72 locations in a crackdown yesterday on criminals – notably a drug-trafficking ring allegedly led by a Thai woman identified as Pornkamol “Sor Ming” Saenliew.
The raids took place in Bangkok, Kanchanaburi, Khon Kaen, Satun, Samut Prakan and Ayutthaya.
Investigations revealed the group had a cash flow from its operations of over Bt700 million, Office of the Narcotics Control Board secretary-general Permpong Chaowalit told a press conference.
The massive security move followed the police arrest in May of Pasin Chanso and four others along with 60,000 ‘yaba’ tablets and 2.14 kilograms of ‘ice’. This operation subsequently found Pasin’s bank accounts had a cash flow of some Bt93 million during the six months prior to the arrest, Permpong said.
Police continued to hunt for Pasin’s accomplices and obtained evidence for arrest warrants for 13 individuals including Pornkamol, who was arrested along with four others on Sunday, two foreigners and two drug-dealing inmates Ahung Saenliew and Jaras Hemna.
Permpong said authorities had seized the gang’s assets worth Bt100 million, while police would gather more evidence and hunt for other accomplices.
A police investigation into 300 bank accounts of the gang’s members, both detained and on the run, found a total of Bt700 million in cash flow, while assets such as houses, cars, gold ornaments and other valuables were estimated to be worth Bt500 million.
Meanwhile, the Southern Border Provinces Police Operation Centre chief Pol Lt-General Yongyuth Charoenwanich said his teams raided 12 locations in Yala, Pattani and Narathiwat from Saturday to Monday to crack down on Sor Ming’s ring. They managed to arrest one suspect identified as Sakari Manano in Narathiwat’s Sungai Kolok district along with cash and assets worth Bt10 million.
Over the three days police also arrested some 50 drug suspects along with about 4,000 ‘yaba’ tablets, 7 kilograms of kratom leaves and other narcotic substances, he said.
In related news, Chiang Mai governor Suriya Prasertbandit announced an annual drug crackdown – 174 cases which yielded 3.3 million “yaba” tablets, 8kg of heroin, 2kg of opium and 1kg of “ice”. Some 6,437 addicts were admitted to rehab programs and 10,839 others were monitored to prevent them returning to drug abuse.
