Thai anti-narcotics police have seized large quantities of drugs, including 19 million meth pills, and arrested 15 suspects in operations in northern and north-eastern provinces between March 28^th and April 4^th.

Pol Gen Chinnapat Sarasin, the national deputy police chief, said today (Wednesday) that the 15 suspects in custody are members of six drug trafficking networks, responsible for smuggling illegal narcotics from the north and northeast to central and Thai southern provinces.

He said that most of the drugs were concealed in cars and, in practice, police cannot search every car and focus instead on those about which they have received information or tip-offs.

He added that police have been instructed to be more vigilant and increase searches of cars during the Songkran festival, noting that drug traffickers commonly seize the opportunity to step up their trafficking activities, as he urged motorists to have patience with any inconvenience caused by increased searches.

Other drugs seized included 12kg of heroin, 9kg of crystal meth, 2kg of ketamine and 86 packs of Happy Water. Several vehicles were also confiscated.

Pol Gen Chinnapat claimed that all the 15 suspects have pleaded guilty to drug trafficking charges.