[CefGemYAffews]

olice seized about two tonnes of marijuana worth an estimated 50 million baht hidden under a load of sand being carried by a truck in Nakhon Phanom on Monday.

Police said it was the biggest marijuana seizure ever made in Thailand. The drug shipment was packed in 68 bundles wrapped in black plastic hidden under a covering of sand on the back of the truck.

Three suspects were arrested. They told police this was their second job and they were paid 100,000 baht to deliver the drug to Khon Kaen province.

If the marijuana were to be sold to overseas clients, its value would be more than 100 million baht, police said.

They believed the marijuana was smuggled into Thailand across the Mekong River. In Chiang Mai, police announced the arrest of an alleged major drug dealer.

After a stake out lasting several months, police nabbed Chalerm Manori and seized 88,000 methamphetamine tablets, or yaba, and seven kilogrammes of heroin found in his pickup truck.

Police also found illegal drugs worth 30 million baht at his home.

In Songkhla's Hat Yai district, the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) raided five stores and seized untaxed cigarettes and liquor worth 20 million baht.

DSI director general Tarit Pengdith told reporters that the department's officials found over 2,200 bottles of liquor and 269,600 cigarettes in the five stores. The seizures included untaxed, smuggled and falsely labelled counterfeit products.

The five shop owners were arrested. They admitted to selling untaxed goods, Mr Tarit said.