Arrested Piya Supaejit, Puek Saeti, and Thanakorn Nontyos, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa)

Arrested Piya Supaejit, 30, Puek Saeti, 24, and Thanakorn Nontyos, 50, known as ''Ped Wa Daeng'' (Red Wa), while on their way from Chiang Mai to deliver drugs to dealers elsewhere in the province. Police found 294,000 speed pills hidden in a pickup truck. The drug-busting force had set off in pursuit of the gang from Chiang Mai. Mr Thanakorn was one of the key members in the drug-trafficking network operated by Red Wa guerrillas, according to Pol Lt-Gen Wut Liptapallop, commander of the Police Narcotic Suppression Bureau, speaking at a press conference yesterday.
After the Tuesday arrest, police yesterday raided five locations in Lampang, including Mr Thanakorn's house, in search of ill-gained assets. Police confiscated assets worth more than five million baht. In order for continued success in the fight against drugs, Phayao MP Wisut Chainaroon, also chairman of a House anti-money laundering and drugs committee, urged the government to support police stations nationwide by paying them a fuel subsidy of 100,000 baht a month, as well a budget of 20,000 baht a month towards a force dedicated to the suppression of drugs crimes.
Given the sharp rise in drug trafficking recently, combined with skyrocketing oil prices, Mr Wisut said the additional financial support was vital.