Phuket volunteer expresses anger over Garry Halpin’s drug arrest
Garry Halpin ‘an ex Phuket Tourist Police volunteer’ says top cop
Phuket Police said they first caught a man named Loesak, also known as Nan Thaitae, 25, in possession of crystal meth (ya ice) around 9.30pm last night (December 14). He told police that Halpin had bought ya ice from him, with the intent to sell to tourists and teenagers in Chalong, Karon, Rawai and other areas.
Police asked Loesak to call Halpin to set up a deal, then swooped on the New Zealander at the Chalong Villa Resort and Spa. In the room where Mr Halpin was staying, police found 18.45 grammes of ya ice, a digital scale, a Samsung Galaxy phone and other drug related equipment including a makeshift pipe for smoking ice.
Halpin was arrested and charged with possession of a category one drug with intent to sell.
Halpin, 52, is a long-time Tourist Police Volunteer, and very well known across the island - particularly in Chalong.
Meanwile, a Phuket expat who knew Halpin said he was “really shocked” to hear the news about his arrest.
“Not only because number one, it’s him, but number two, it’s ya ice, and he’s probably going to get life [in prison] for that, or a long sentence anyway," he told The Phuket News.
The man said Halpin was “heavily involved” with the Tourist Police and he had called on him three times to help in situations.
“He was a useful contact to have, and he spoke reasonable Thai. He was a nice guy, and very helpful. I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about him.”
He said Halpin used to own a dive shop called Raya Divers on the Chalong Pier road, and another shop in Khao Lak, but was not sure if he was still involved in the running of the business.
Halpin has a 13-year-old daughter who lives in Phuket, and was understood to have lived in Phuket for at least 15 years.