A 25-year-old Cambodian man was arrested Thursday by Thai police near the Poipet border crossing for allegedly smuggling methamphetamines into Thailand, officials said yesterday.
“Seang Mai was arrested after he attempted to bring 6,000 methamphetamine pills and a package of crystal methamphetamine worth about $100,000 into Thailand,” said Sek Samorn, deputy director of the Cambodian-Thai Border Communication Office.
“This man is a drug smuggler who was paid to do this,” he added. Mr Samorn said that Mr Mai was apprehended by Thai police about 100 meters from the Poipet border.
Mr Samorn said he had sent an officer to investigate the arrest. “Sometimes Thailand arrests Khmer people when there is not enough evidence, but in this case the evidence is sufficient…. This man has to face the law.” Dy Phan, director of the Northwest Military Border Commission Office said Mr Mai confessed that he had been paid to smuggle drugs.
“Following his arrest, he confessed he had been paid 10,000 baht [$332] to smuggle drugs into Thailand,” he said. “I have instructed Poipet military police to investigate to see if they can find the person who paid [Mr Mai],” he added.
