AUTHORITIES in Chiang Mai arrested the owner at an orange packing plant after a drug raid discovered 980,000 methamphetamine pills stowed away in the woman’s factory.
According to drug officials, the bust is one of the largest in Chiang Mai in months. Pairote Saengpoowong, deputy governor for Chiang Mai, said that prior to the raid officials had received inside information that the drugs would be moved from the factory to a location in Bangkok. A source informed the officers that the drugs were hidden inside of the orange baskets and would be delivered to the buyer in Bangkok soon.
Reports in the national press suggest that border patrol police and soldiers, jointly, raided the plant owned by 54-year old Rapin Supornsophon, who vehemently denies any knowledge that the drugs were located in her factory. The pills were found in taped packages hidden in compartments beneath the fruit.
Pairote said that the seizure was the result of a cooperative effort and that it is important for transport firms to keep an eye out for suspicious deliveries such as the orange plant packages.
