Couple sought after B5.5m drug bust
PHUKET: Police are hunting a Phuket couple who are allegedly senior figures in a drug network selling narcotics to users in Baan Liporn in Thalang District and Baan Yamee on Koh Yao Yai.
Monday 13 February 2012, 06:04PM
The couple have been identified as Yusobe Laiban, 45, and Patcharee Klomsanoh, 31, posted as wanted after police seized drugs with a street value of around B5.5 million from their home.
Acting on a tip-off, police raided the couple’s house in Mai Khao on February 10, but found there only a couple of relatives, Kawee Maliwan, 41, and Halia Waharak.
Both were arrested after police found Kawee to be in possession of 152 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills. A search of the house also resulted in the seizure of 15 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine).
The two then told police an interesting tale: Yusobe and Patcharee had driven to see them at their home in Phang Nga Province last Thursday evening (February 9).
They handed them a plastic bucket containing large amounts of ya ba and ya ice, and asked Kawee to take them to Phuket by boat, in order to avoid police roadblocks at Tah Chat Chai and elsewhere.
As payment Kawee was offered the 152 pills later seized from him during the police raid.
On the same night, Kawee and Halia set off in their long-tail boat from Baan Klong Kian in Phang Nga, landing in Baan Maakprok in Mai Khao, south of the notorious Baan Kor Ane bend, and close to Yusobe’s house.
There, as ordered, they buried the bucket close to Yusobe’s house.
Kawee then showed police where the bucket was buried. Officers dug it up and seized another 7,728 ya ba pills and 758 grams of ya ice.
Kawee and Halia were charged with possession of narcotics.
