The suspects in police custody along with the stash of drugs found in their house. - VT
VIENTIANE (Vientiane Times/Asia News Network): Police in Bokeo province arrested a couple after a raid on their house turned up over six million amphetamine pills.
Police in Tonpheung district were on the lookout for the suspects, named as Phone, 45, and his wife Mone, 43, and when they saw them riding a motorbike through Sibonheuang village they followed them to their house.
A raid of the premises yielded 6,608,000 amphetamine pills weighing 733 kilograms, and one kilogram of crystal meth.
Police confiscated three vehicles and 80 million kip, 4,109,000 Thai baht and 10,000 yuan in cash, which the couple is believed to have earned from the trade in drugs.
Authorities are now questioning the pair in the hope of tracking down other members of the drug ring they were involved with.
This was the fifth largest haul of illicit drugs in Bokeo province this year.
In June, Bokeo police arrested two men after finding 12 million amphetamine tablets in two trucks they were driving through the province.
In March, police seized almost 12 million amphetamine tablets found in a parked pick-up truck, but have been unable to trace the persons responsible for transporting the drugs.
The discovery was made after police were informed by a local resident that a blue truck with no licence plate was parked in Namkeung village, Tonpheung district.
When police approached the vehicle, the two occupants fled and evaded arrest. A search of the vehicle turned up 5,960 packages of amphetamine containing 11,920,000 tablets and weighing 1,288 kg.
In January, Bokeo police broke up a drug ring in Huayxai district when they arrested four suspects in possession of more than 4 tonnes of amphetamine.
During the raid, police impounded a car, five phones, 36,480,000 amphetamine tablets, 590 kilograms of crystal meth (ice), and several packages of heroin.
