PHUKET, THAILAND – Police on the resort island raided a luxury sea-view villa in Laem Panwa, arresting two suspects and seizing heroin, methamphetamine and more than 100,000 baht in cash.
Late-night raid in upscale Laem Panwa
The Wichit police carried out the operation on a Saturday evening at about 9:30 p.m., targeting a villa on Sakdidet Road in the high-end Laem Panwa area. Officers arrested a 37-year-old Thai man known as “Mr. Kanok” from Chalong and a 54-year-old Norwegian woman referred to as “Ms. Mette” inside the property, which was described as a prestige sea-view villa. The raid followed an intensive period of surveillance after tips linked the luxury residence to drug sales.
Heroin, meth and cash seized in the villa
Police reported seizing 30.52 grams of heroin in resealable plastic bags, along with another 2.26 grams including its packaging. They also confiscated 0.64 grams of crystal meth, known locally as “Ya Ice”, and 44 methamphetamine pills, or “Ya Bah”, stamped with the marking “WY”. As additional evidence, officers collected a digital scale, drug-use paraphernalia, a patterned bag and 100,000 baht in cash.
Positive drug tests deepen suspicion
Both the Thai man and the Norwegian woman were subjected to immediate urine tests, which were reported to be positive for heroin and methamphetamine. According to investigators, this supported the suspicion that the villa served not only as a distribution point but also as a place where hard drugs were consumed. The pair were taken to the Wichit police station, where formal charges were prepared.
Heavy charges and visa overstay
The suspects faced serious accusations, including joint possession of heroin for sale and joint possession of methamphetamine without permission. They were also charged with the illegal use of methamphetamine, heroin and meth. For the Norwegian citizen, an additional allegation of overstaying her visa meant she was considered to have been staying in Thailand illegally.
Inquiry into villa ownership and wider network
Police Colonel Somsak Thongkliang said the investigation would be expanded to clarify who actually owns the luxury villa. Officers aimed to determine whether it was rented, and if so, by whom, and to identify any further accomplices who might be involved in the drug operation. The police stated that they intended to dismantle the entire network and were preparing the case for the next stages of legal proceedings.
Impact on Phuket’s image as holiday island
Authorities noted that the discovery was another setback for Phuket’s reputation as a safe holiday paradise, as luxury properties were being used repeatedly for criminal activities. They stressed that their fight against drug dealers and users in the Wichit area would continue, saying they hoped the successful raid would have a deterrent effect. For the international couple, the dream of an easy life in a tropical villa had ended abruptly, and they now faced the prospect of long prison sentences.