KALASIN — 7 September 2026, suspected drug courier was arrested after he reportedly fell asleep inside his car while it was being washed at a car wash in central Kalasin, leading police to seize 42,000 methamphetamine pills and a handgun.
The suspect, identified as Ekaphon “Ek” Changprasert, 39, was arrested after a member of the public noticed a suspicious situation at a car wash in a lane near a mosque on Pracha Uthit Road in Kalasin municipality at around 00:30 on 7 September.
Police said Ekaphon had driven a grey Toyota Yaris with Bangkok licence plate 6 กล 5251 to the car wash because the vehicle was covered in mud.
While two workers were washing the car, the suspect reportedly fell asleep inside without switching off the engine.
A concerned member of the public called the Kalasin governor’s hotline at 1567 and the provincial police commander’s hotline at 191, prompting officers to inspect the vehicle.
Provincial police chief Pol Maj Gen Songphon Boribanprasit said officers found the man asleep inside the car and were initially unable to wake him despite repeatedly trying.
Officers eventually managed to open the door, causing the suspect to wake up in a drowsy state.
A search of the vehicle allegedly found 12,000 methamphetamine pills inside a shoulder bag. Police also found a modified 9mm semi-automatic handgun and 9mm ammunition beside the suspect.
The suspect was taken into custody and questioned before officers searched a hotel room he had rented.
Police found another 30,000 methamphetamine pills in the room, bringing the total seizure to 42,000 pills.
Suspect says he had not slept for seven days
Police said Ekaphon admitted that all the drugs belonged to him.
He allegedly told investigators that he had obtained the drugs from a drug trafficking network in neighbouring Laos and was responsible for distributing them to several provinces in northeastern Thailand.
The suspect reportedly said he had been awake and had not slept for seven days while travelling to deliver the drugs.
He allegedly received 70,000 baht for working as a drug courier.
He was reportedly preparing to distribute the drugs in Kalasin when the car became covered in mud, prompting him to stop at the car wash.
While waiting for workers to clean the vehicle, he unexpectedly fell asleep.
“When I woke up, I saw police officers surrounding the car,” the suspect was quoted as saying.
Police subsequently took him to investigators at Mueang Kalasin Police Station for legal proceedings and said they would continue investigating the wider drug network.
Authorities vow continued drug crackdown
Kalasin Governor Suwattan Khemtanaphet and Pol Maj Gen Songphon said administrative officials, police and other agencies would continue a sweeping crackdown on drugs across the province.
They said authorities would conduct searches, raids and arrests targeting both drug dealers and users in accordance with government policy and orders from Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul.
The officials also urged members of the public to report suspected drug activity through the governor’s 1567 hotline or the police 191 hotline.
They stressed that information provided by informants would be kept confidential and that authorities would act on credible reports.
