BANGKOK: Thai police say they have dismantled a major transnational narcotics network known as “Black Mirror TKP”, alleging it trafficked drugs and used front companies to move and launder proceeds, with funds circulating in the tens of billions of baht.
Samran Nualma, deputy national police chief and director of the police narcotics suppression centre, chaired a briefing on the operation, which was led by the Narcotics Suppression Bureau in coordination with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB), the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) and other agencies.
The investigation stems from an arrest on February 11, 2025, when a ranger unit (Company 2101, Surasak Montri Task Force) detained three Lao nationals—identified as Thao Phong, Thao Li and Thao Dam—in Ban Pak Huai Muang, Na Khe subdistrict, Ban Phaeng district, Nakhon Phanom.
Seized items included about 658kg of crystal meth (ice), 116,000 methamphetamine tablets, two long-tail boats and one van, which authorities said were used to move drugs from the border into Thailand’s interior.
Police said subsequent investigation found the network’s financial trail was linked to TKP and connected to seven additional cases, including:
March 18, 2025: arrests of three suspects—Jirapong, Ekaphop and Khanittha—with about 199kg of ketamine and two cars at a resort room in Erawan district, Loei; police later arrested two alleged organisers.
May 9, 2025: arrests of Sithisak and Kritsada with 196,000 meth tablets and two cars; police later arrested Natthaphong and Kittisak, accused of transferring funds through company accounts.
June 29, 2025: Huai Rai police in Phrae arrested Aree with 10,000,000 meth tablets.
November 19, 2024: Wang Saphung police in Loei arrested Wichean with 60,000 meth tablets.
December 8, 2024: Taiwan customs seized a parcel containing 3.23kg of heroin hidden in lotion bottles; the parcel was sent from Tha Bo district, Nong Khai.
April 6, 2025: Highway Patrol/191 officers arrested Noppadol (aka Don) with 10,000,000 meth tablets.
November 10, 2025: Ban Du police in Chiang Rai arrested five suspects with 10,000,000 meth tablets.
Police said the investigation uncovered financial links to three additional companies—MTC, TKP Petroleum, and Master Trade—with account activity indicating transactions suspected to be connected across multiple locations.
Working with AMLO, investigators compiled evidence and obtained warrants from the Criminal Court for seven directors and shareholders on alleged money laundering charges.
At 6.00am on December 29, 2025, police carried out coordinated searches at 22 locations across Bangkok, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Lopburi and Trang. Authorities said four warrant suspects were arrested.
Assets seized or frozen included:
1,562,000 baht (US$4,9675) in cash
43 baht-weight of gold (about 655g)
8 houses with land
12 condominium units
6 cars, 1 motorcycle
18 firearms
1 land title deed
30 million baht frozen in bank accounts
Total value seized/frozen was stated at 246,604,500 baht.
Police said the wider case involved seizures totalling 30.37 million meth tablets, 658kg of ice, 3.23kg of heroin, and 199kg of ketamine, with 24 suspects in total.
Political fallout: party swaps Bangkok candidate
The case drew attention earlier on December 29 after reports said a parliamentary candidate from a major party had been arrested. Police said the person was suspected of involvement in laundering linked to the drug network, including alleged receipt of monthly payments.
At around 9.40am, Pijarn Cheawpattanawong, an executive of the People’s Party, announced the party had replaced its Bangkok constituency candidate for District 33 (Bang Phlat–Bangkok Noi) after internal checks found the candidate had been named in an arrest warrant in the case. - The Nation/ANN
