Police yesterday arrested the alleged owner of a large haul of illegal drugs found last week in a rented Bangkok home, along with an Army major who allegedly provided the drug suspect with a military permit allowing him to drive through police checkpoints.

Niphon Kanchart, 54, was arrested yesterday morning at a housing estate in Pathum Thani province with Bt303,500 in cash. He admitted to owning or transporting the drugs – 71 kg of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice”, and 3.8 million amphetamine tablets worth around Bt1 billion in total – which were found at a home in eastern Bangkok that he rented from an actress.

Read more: The Nation