Two Thai brothers were arrested on Tuesday for alleged involvement in a Rayong-based drug smuggling network that used tourist boats to ferry their illegal Australia-bound cargo.
The traffickers used 900 gross-tonnage vessels to transport crystal methamphetamine, or ‘ice’, which would then be transferred to a larger vessel in international waters, said Pol Lt Gen Natthasak Chaowanasai, chief of the Central Investigation Bureau.
The arrest followed the seizure of 2.4 tonnes of ‘ice’ concealed in waterproof packaging ready to load onto a boat at the Ban Laem Son pier in Klaeng district of Rayong in June last year. Eight suspects were taken into custody.
Police said on Tuesday that the gang used a route from the mouth of the Prasae River in Rayong through the Gulf of Thailand to Sichon and Khanom districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat.
Australia was the final destination, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.
After tracing financial transactions of suspect bank accounts, investigators believed the network was linked to a drug syndicate headquartered in an unnamed neighbouring country and involved more people.
The two suspects arrested in Nakhon Si Thammarat were brothers identified only as Priwat, 43, and Piti, 46. Both were natives of Rayong, police said.
The younger brother was responsible for commanding crew members of the small boats and overseeing transport, while the older suspect managed financial matters and sourced Starlink satellite communication equipment installed on the boats.
Mr Priwat fled police in tambon Thong Nian in Khanom district but officers were able to stop the vehicle and apprehend the suspect.
During questioning, Mr Priwat claimed that his brother had been out at sea fishing for five to six days. Police were sceptical and checked vessel radar data, which showed that Mr Piti’s fishing boat had actually departed the port only 20 minutes earlier.
He was later arrested aboard the vessel. Authorities also seized their mobile phones as evidence, Pol Lt Gen Natthasak said.