7 held in Thalang drug sweep
In just one day in the Thalang area, seven people were arrested in five separate police sweeps and charged with drug possession. About 185 grams of ya-ice (crystal methamphetamine) and 2,000 ya-ba (methamphetamine) pills were seized.
Thursday 14 July 2011, 05:53AM
Apart from the drugs, police also seized more than B100,000 cash, a Toyota Fortuner vehicle, two .38-calibre handguns and six bullets, a set of digital scales and a mobile phone.
The seven, all arrested on Sunday and described by police as drug couriers, were Pinyo Boonyuen, 23, and his girlfriend Pilaiporn Tharuearaksa, 20; Anupong Songsri, 24; Wisit Songkun, 33; Panurak Songkun, 26; Wuttichai Bhumngam, 20; and Aroon Waree, 23.
The superintendent of Thalang Police Station, Pol Col Witroon Kongsudjai, said that it was becoming clear that Thalang District was Phuket’s biggest drug trading area, especially the Baan Liporn and Pa Khlok areas.
Many couriers and small drug dealers, he added, are young people between 20 to 30 years old.
“They tend to have a common background – they have little or no education, and most are from broken homes,” Col Witroon said.
“Some are jobless and are persuaded by friends to get involved into the drug trade. As a result, the drug trade has evolved into a big network involving many young people.”
