Academic among eight held in drug crackdown - Bangkok Post

An assistant professor at a Bangkok university and seven other suspects, including three state hospital employees in Sukhothai, have been arrested in two drug operations, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board says.

The arrests were part of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) six-month war on drugs under the "Cutting Out the Cancerous Tissue" campaign. The two operations resulted in the seizure of 1,359 meth pills.

In Bangkok, ONCB officials and Hua Mak police arrested the university employee on Tuesday after finding 2.81 grammes of crystal meth inside a hotel-room safe in Bang Kapi district.

The investigation followed a complaint on Saturday alleging that the 45-year-old academic used ice and booked hotel rooms for several days to invite others to take drugs.

The suspect, who has a doctoral degree, allegedly admitted to using ice and told investigators he had bought 2g via an app on Monday for 2,200 baht.

He faces charges of illegal possession and use of a Category 1 narcotic. The ONCB said it would investigate further and coordinate with the university on disciplinary action.

In Sukhothai, the ONCB's Region 6 office and a joint task force arrested seven people, including three hospital employees and four external network members.

The investigation began after a tip-off on Monday led officers to a hospital porter suspected of drug use. He admitted the offence, agreed to undergo rehabilitation and provided information about a suspected major dealer working at the same hospital.

A hospital driver was subsequently arrested with 252 meth pills, including 22 found at his residence. A suspected supplier fled during an arrest attempt, abandoning 957 pills and a mobile phone. Another network member was arrested with 150 pills.