PATONG, THAILAND – Police in the resort town arrested a suspected cocaine dealer during an undercover operation on a hospital parking lot.
Undercover buy at Patong Hospital
Around 6:55 p.m. on Monday, 18 November, undercover officers lured a 31-year-old Nigerian suspect to the parking area of Patong Hospital for a controlled purchase. The operation was conducted as a covert deployment, with plainclothes investigators posing as buyers.
Senior officers led tightly controlled operation
The sting was carried out under the direct supervision of Colonel Chalermchai Hirasawat, the Patong police chief, while an elite team monitored the transaction. Investigation leader Lieutenant Saran Chaiwut and his deputy Lieutenant Suchart Chumphusang coordinated the arrest, leaving the suspect no opportunity to escape.
Cocaine worth 6,000 baht seized
During the controlled buy, the man allegedly handed over two small bags of cocaine with a total weight of 1.10 grams. Police said the street value of the seized drug was 6,000 baht (about 150 euros), described as a typical price in the busy tourist destination. The suspect was immediately arrested, handcuffed on the spot and taken into custody.
Serious charges and possible deportation
The 31-year-old now faced accusations of trafficking a Category 2 drug (cocaine) without a license, an offence that could result in years behind bars. After his arrest he was transferred to Patong Police Station, where evidence was secured and legal proceedings were initiated. For the alleged dealer, authorities said, the case likely marked the end of his criminal career in Thailand, with lengthy prison time and subsequent deportation looming.
Hospital parking lot chosen as crime scene
Investigators described the choice of a hospital parking lot as a particularly bold attempt to avoid police attention. However, officers had apparently been observing the Nigerian suspect for some time and were waiting for the right moment to intervene. Police stressed that with this action they wanted to demonstrate that drug trafficking would be pursued everywhere, even in locations that might appear safe.
Part of broader anti-drug push in Patong
Authorities stated that the arrest formed part of a wider crackdown on drug crime in Patong, where enforcement against dealers had been intensified. Foreign drug traffickers who viewed the tourist hub as a lucrative market were said to be a particular focus of current operations. For the police, this case was presented as another success in efforts to keep the streets of Thailand’s best-known seaside resort safe.