Thailand: Suspect slain as cops target drugs lord

[yuiyoshida]

Police examine the car of one of the suspects who tried to shoot his way out of the Khao Yai raid and died in a hail of gunfire. (Photo by Tanaphon Ongarttrakul)

A suspected drug trafficker was shot and killed early Wednesday in a clash with police in Saraburi province while 30 others were rounded up at a "thank-you" party in Nakhon Ratchasima's Pak Chong district.

Almost simultaneously, anti-narcotics authorities launched pre-dawn raids at 27 locations in Bangkok, Samut Prakan and Nonthaburi, seized 6kg of crystal methamphetamine, or ice, 80,000 methamphetamine pills and several firearms.

Rewat Klinkesorn, commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), said the raids were part of "Operation Triple Night" targeting the network of major drug suspect Sadayu Lueangpradapjai.

Mr Sadayu, known to be an amateur sharpshooter, is said to run a car racing gang called Nakaoka. Members of the gang are allegedly recruited to be couriers.

He said authorities had followed the activities of some of the suspects and learned a major drug gang was throwing a seminar and "thank-you" party for dozens of alleged drug dealers at a resort in Khao Yai national park in Pak Chong.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/general/1086008/suspect-slain-as-cops-target-drugs-lord