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PETALING JAYA: A Malaysian drug dealer, identified as a key member of transnational drug syndicates, was arrested in Laos last Friday.

A joint operation by law enforcement authorities from Thailand and Laos closed in on the suspect following the arrest of seven other suspects and the seizure of 998kg of crystal meth in Ratchaburi, Thailand in June last year, Bangkok Post reported.

Local authorities had also seized a range of assets belonging to the Malaysian suspect. The assets included a plot of land, two condominium units, three yachts, two cars, three motorcycles, three firearms, 275,000 baht in cash, 10 bank accounts and other valuable items.

The 39-year-old was said to have played a crucial role in drug procurement and coordination with drug syndicates in the Golden Triangle region.

The suspect is believed to have collaborated with drug networks operating across Thailand, Malaysia, China, Singapore, and Laos, and had used Thailand as a hub for money laundering and as a transit point for smuggling drugs to various destinations.

According to the English-language daily, the crackdown on drug-related crime, including the Malaysian’s arrest, is part of proactive measures undertaken by Thai prime minister Srettha Thavisin’s government to address and combat the drug trade.