PHUKET, THAILAND – Authorities in Phuket intensified inspections of licensed and unlicensed cannabis shops and reported interim results in the province’s wider campaign against drug trafficking.
Province-wide inspections of cannabis shops
Officials reported that 115 of a targeted 553 cannabis shops across the province had been inspected, representing 20.8 percent of the locations identified for checks.
The inspections were carried out by the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office in coordination with administrative agencies, provincial police and other departments. Authorities said the operations would continue to verify compliance with existing regulations.
Anti-drug committee meets in Phuket
The current situation was presented at the fourth meeting of the Phuket Provincial Anti-Drug Centre Committee for the 2026 fiscal year, held on 27 February at the provincial hall under the chairmanship of Vice Governor Rungruang Thimabutr.
Heads of agencies, representatives of the Office of the Narcotics Control Board Region 8, district officials and other relevant bodies attended. They reviewed measures on prevention, suppression and rehabilitation as well as the latest enforcement outcomes.
Arrests at Phuket International Airport
Participants highlighted anti-drug measures at Phuket International Airport, where a suspect was arrested in February for attempting to smuggle 3.1 kilograms of cocaine.
In a separate case, five individuals were detained in connection with the attempted smuggling of 102 kilograms of marijuana, underscoring the airport’s role as a key control point.
Sharp rise in drug offences
According to provincial data, 1,156 drug offences were recorded in the first four months of the 2026 fiscal year from October 2025 to January 2026, an increase of 298 cases, or 34.73 percent, compared with the same period a year earlier.
The most widespread narcotics in Phuket remained methamphetamine (ya bah), crystal meth (ya ice), cocaine and heroin. Most charges related to consumption, followed by possession, distribution, possession for consumption and possession for trading.
Police still short of annual targets
Between 1 October 2025 and 24 February 2026, the Phuket provincial police had set a target of 1,511 cases to be processed and had handled 636, equivalent to 42.09 percent of the annual goal.
For the execution of outstanding arrest warrants, 29 cases were completed against a target of 43, or 67.44 percent. In offences of aiding and conspiracy in drug cases, 28 of 34 planned cases were processed, reaching 82.35 percent of the target.
Money laundering and seized assets
In the field of money laundering linked to drug offences, three cases were handled, even though the annual target was only one, corresponding to 300 percent of the objective.
Drug investigations led to the seizure of assets worth 22,461,451 baht, representing 56.15 percent of the annual asset seizure target of 40 million baht.
Progress and gaps in rehabilitation
For rehabilitation, the province aimed to treat 1,245 people in the 2026 fiscal year. By 26 February, 349 individuals had entered programmes, equal to 28.03 percent of the yearly target.
Vice Governor Rungruang called for continued coordinated cooperation among all sectors in prevention, suppression and treatment. He stressed that all entertainment venues had to remain free of prostitution, firearms and narcotics.
Strict enforcement and public safety pledge
He issued a warning that violations in these areas would be pursued consistently and strictly under current law in order to maintain public order in the tourism province.
“Drug use cannot be completely eradicated,”
said Rungruang Thimabutr, Vice Governor,
“but coordinated enforcement can reduce the scale of the problem and strengthen public safety across the province.”
said Rungruang Thimabutr, Vice Governor.