An Army and police joint taskforce yesterday raided six locations in Nonthaburi and Bangkok in a crackdown on a drug ring allegedly led by murder inmate Daeng Sadphum - seizing Bt110 million in assets and money frozen in bank accounts.
Office of the Narcotics Control Board deputy chief Phoemphong Chawalit early yesterday morning led some 100 officers to search the six locations, including two houses in Nonthaburi's Bang Kruay and Muang districts, three houses in Bangkok's Sai Mai and Don Muang districts and a condominium at Sukhumvit 48.
Phoemphong said Daeng, currently imprisoned at Klong Prem Prison, had allegedly started dealing drugs in Wat Makok community before becoming a major distributor of northern drugs in Bangkok.
He allegedly bought assets under names of his wife, son and mother and opened shoe shops for his wife in Pathum Wan and Siam Square.
He said Daeng's wife and mother would be asked to explain the origins of the seized assets including gold ornaments.
The raids followed the arrest of Daeng's alleged accomplice and the seizure of 142,000 yaba pills and crystal meth, which was transported by a logistic company from Chiang Rai to Bangkok.
Phoemphong said police were investigating Daeng's relatives and hoped to make more arrests and seize more assets in a case that the ONCB had worked for three years.