Bangkok: The National Intelligence Service (NIS) announced its involvement in a joint operation with Thai authorities to seize nearly 50 tons of drug-producing chemicals in Thailand. This marks the first instance of a South Korean government agency directly participating in an overseas drug production base crackdown.

According to Yonhap News Agency, the NIS collaborated with Thailand's Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) to raid 10 warehouses in and around Bangkok. The operation led to the confiscation of 49.98 tons of chemicals, including acetone and hydrochloric acid, which are precursors for narcotics production. The seized chemicals were sufficient to produce approximately 700 million doses of drugs, with an estimated street value of about 8.4 trillion won (US$5.59 billion).

The operation was initiated after a request from Thai authorities to the NIS to arrest and extradite a Thai drug kingpin, known as Thapanan, who was apprehended in Seoul in April. Thapanan is accused of distributing a significant portion of the narcotics in Thailand and had 50 arrest warrants issued against him over the past decade.

More than 100 personnel from five Thai agencies, including the ONCB, military, and police, participated in the operation. The NIS contributed by dispatching drug enforcement specialists to assist in the effort. The operation aimed to dismantle a major source of narcotics not only affecting South Korea but also other parts of Asia.

The NIS emphasized the significance of this operation and committed to continued collaboration with regional partners to disrupt international drug supply chains.