Banglamung District authorities have captured a notorious drug dealer known locally as “Huay Yai Elephant” after a tense confrontation that saw the suspect attempt to swallow large amounts of narcotics in a desperate effort to destroy evidence.
The arrest unfolded at 7:26 PM on Wednesday, August 27, 2025, as part of a meticulously planned sting operation led by District Chief Pacharaphat Sridhanyanon.
Targeting a Known Trafficker
The operation centered on Ittisak Inthasingh, 47, alias Chiang Huay Yai. Despite being disabled and reliant on a prosthetic leg, Chiang built a reputation as a key narcotics supplier in the Huay Yai Subdistrict, operating from a modest shack on Soi 36, Huay Yai Municipal Road.
Investigators received intelligence from a previously arrested drug user, prompting Deputy District Chief Khamprai Laosaen, along with the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and volunteer defense corps (OrSor), to orchestrate a sting involving the purchase of 50 grams of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”).
Sting Turns Chaotic
Undercover operatives successfully arranged a meeting with Chiang, but as authorities moved in for the arrest, he locked himself inside and ran to the bathroom.
In a frantic bid to conceal evidence, Chiang tried flushing ecstasy pills down the toilet and dumping drugs into the sink. With officers closing in, he swallowed an undisclosed quantity of both ecstasy and ice before collapsing.
Evidence Seized
When officials forced entry, they found:
- 920 ecstasy pills, many scattered in the sink.
- 32.47 grams of ice packaged in zip-lock bags.
- Four additional plastic bags of drugs abandoned on the bathroom floor.
The haul confirmed Chiang’s role as a mid-level supplier distributing narcotics to smaller street dealers across Banglamung.
Critical Condition
Chiang lost consciousness shortly after ingesting the drugs and was rushed to a nearby hospital. Medical staff reported that his condition was critical but stable, with a police detail assigned to maintain round-the-clock surveillance.
Authorities say he will be transferred to Huay Yai Police Station for formal charges once his health improves.
District Chief Pacharaphat hailed the operation as a significant blow to the local drug trade, stressing that crackdowns will continue to target both suppliers and street-level distributors.
