BANGKOK: A female police colonel accused of trafficking sedative drugs for illegal distribution has been found to have been selling the drugs since 2022, with the substances being distributed to pharmacies and eventually reaching drug dealers.

The police colonel, identified as “Pol Col Anchulee” or “Mor Air,” and working at the Police General Hospital, was arrested earlier at a condominium in Bangkok’s Ratchadamri area for trafficking sedative drugs.

During a press conference on Wednesday (June 11), Thanakrit Chitareerat, an assistant to the Public Health Minister, clarified that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had noticed irregularities in sedative drug procurement since mid-2024 and had conducted retroactive investigations dating back to 2022.

According to Thanakrit, Mor Air began ordering sedative drugs worth 1 million baht in 2022. In 2023, the volume of drugs ordered increased to 4 million baht. By 2024, the total value had risen to 11 million baht, and by 2025, the number of clinics ordering the drugs had expanded to 12, with a value of approximately 7-8 million baht in additional drug purchases.

"As the volume continued to rise at an alarming rate, it became suspicious, prompting a report to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) to take action," Thanakrit explained. He added that a total of 170,000 tablets were seized and distributed to pharmacies before being sold to drug dealers.

Currently, NSB is expanding its investigation. Whether this will extend nationwide is still under review, but officials anticipate being able to conduct further searches soon, Thanakrit said.

- Photo: The Nation/ANN

Regarding the use of deceased individuals’ names to fraudulently procure drugs, Thanakrit said that the number of deceased individuals involved has increased to 370. He stated that it should be left to the police to question all suspects first, and that the Public Health Ministry and FDA will collect all the evidence necessary to pursue legal action against those involved.

Thanakrit confirmed that the arrest of the Mor Air trafficking ring was unrelated to the Medical Council of Thailand’s reconsideration of the penalties for three doctors involved in the treatment of former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra.

Meanwhile, NSD Chief Pol Maj Gen Noppasit Mitpakdee explained that the trafficking of sedative drugs, which fall under controlled substances in categories 2 and 4, was organised as a group, with medical personnel directing the operations.

The group ordered the drugs from the FDA under the names of 12 medical clinics, before hiding them in a private room at a police flat in Bangkok’s Phaya Thai district. The drugs were then distributed to conspirators in various areas. - The Nation/ANN