PHUKET, THAILAND – Four foreign suspects were arrested and more than 3.1 kilograms of cocaine were seized in a joint police operation that investigators believed was aimed at tourists.
Coordinated strike on alleged drug network
The operation was led by the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) under Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong, in coordination with Phuket Provincial Police Commander Major General Sinlert Sukhum and Narcotics Suppression Police Division 4 Chief Major General Teera Thongrayap. According to NSB Division 4 investigators, there had been indications that a group of foreign nationals had specifically offered cocaine to tourists in Phuket’s entertainment districts and heavily frequented holiday areas.
Initial arrest triggers wider probe
Officers collected evidence over an extended period, obtained a court arrest warrant and first detained a Nigerian suspect, which, according to police, enabled them to expand the investigation to other alleged members of the network. In a further step, NSB officers, together with the provincial police, Tourist Police and Immigration Police, searched an entertainment venue in the Bangla area of Patong in Kathu district, one of the island’s main tourist centers.
Checks in Patong lead to more arrests
During this inspection, two more suspects were arrested, including a Nigerian national in whose possession police said they found about one gram of cocaine; he was charged with unlawful possession of a Category 2 narcotic. Another foreign man was detained in the venue because, according to police, he had stayed in the country without a valid entry permit.
3.1 kilograms of cocaine seized at airport
Prior to the Patong raid, NSB Division 4 officers, working with customs and Phuket Provincial Police at Phuket airport, had stopped a Brazilian man in whose luggage police reported finding 3.1 kilograms of cocaine concealed. Investigators linked this shipment to the same alleged network and believed the drugs were to be resold to tourists in Phuket.
NSB vows continued crackdown
Lieutenant General Achayon stated that the NSB would continue its anti-drug operations in economic regions and major tourist areas and had instructed investigators to broaden the case to identify additional suspects and dismantle the network’s structure.
“The NSB will continue its anti-drug operations in economic regions and major tourist areas and has instructed investigators to expand the case in order to identify more suspects and dismantle the structure of the network.”
said Lieutenant General Achayon Kraithong, NSB chief.
The NSB also called on the public to report information on drug trafficking or suspicious persons via hotlines 1599 or 191, or directly to the nearest police station.
“The public is urged to report any information about drug dealing or suspicious persons via the hotlines 1599 or 191 or directly at the nearest police station.”
said the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.
Previous cocaine arrests in Patong
In December of the previous year, provincial administrative officials in Phuket had already arrested a Thai citizen and a British man in a covert operation in the Patong area on charges of cocaine possession. The special unit of the Phuket Provincial Administrative Office had acted after complaints about cocaine sales near Patong Beach.
Resort under scrutiny amid drug concerns
Cocaine in luggage, sales in party zones and international suspects once again put Phuket in the spotlight of drug investigators. The recent arrests and seizures raised questions about whether pressure from the authorities would be sufficient to contain the problem or whether the market would grow along with tourism.