PATONG, THAILAND – A special police operation on 25 October seized 43.64 grams of crystal meth and distribution paraphernalia from a hotel room on Sirirat Road, and arrested a 46-year-old French tourist and a 31-year-old Thai transgender woman on charges of commercial trafficking in a Category 1 narcotic.
Raid and arrests
The operation was led by Colonel Chalermchai Hoernsawat, director of the Patong police station, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Suchart Chumphuesaeng and Police Captain Saran Chaiwut among the team. A special unit entered a hotel room on Sirirat Road in Patong on 25 October after sustained surveillance and followed up on tips about illegal drug activity. Both suspects were taken into custody without resistance and later questioned at the Patong police station. They were formally charged with communal commercial trafficking of a Category 1 narcotic.
Evidence recovered
Officers reported the seizure of 43.64 grams of crystal meth alongside a digital scale and 40 small plastic bags, items described by investigators as consistent with street-level distribution. The packaging and quantity were presented as evidence indicating preparation for sale rather than personal use. Police said the scene matched the typical layout for distribution in tourist areas.
Investigation and legal process
Authorities said the arrests followed intensive observation after receiving information about drug activity in the area, and investigators were analysing electronic communications to trace the drugs’ origin. The case file will be forwarded to the Phuket provincial prosecutor once inquiries are complete, and both suspects remain in police custody pending further action. Under Thai law, trafficking in Category 1 substances, which includes methamphetamine, carries long prison terms and heavy fines, and the authorities have signalled a strict approach when sales target tourists.
Wider context
Local enforcement has stepped up operations against narcotics in tourist hubs as officials respond to a rise in incidents involving foreign nationals. Police and prosecutors have emphasised that drug offences committed in resort areas draw particular scrutiny because of the potential impact on visitor safety and the island’s reputation. The raid and subsequent charges were reported by local media outlet Matichon as part of continuing efforts to curb the presence of illegal drugs in Phuket‘s busiest districts.