The total street value of the drugs was estimated at B8 million.
The arrests began when undercover police set up a drug buy in Phuket Town with Wichai Sapparod, 26. After the ‘deal’ was done, officers arrested Wichai.
They seized 12 ya-ba pills, 0.95 grams of ya-ice and a pistol from him.
Under questioning, Wichai gave police two names: Sunaree Boodsisuay, 23, and Supan Jandang, 40. Police set up another ‘deal’ and then arrested the pair, taking possession of 21.3 grams of ya-ice, 643 ya-ba pills, two more guns and B150,000 cash.
Sunaree admitted she had bought the drugs from a longtail boatman name Adul Tongkly, 22. She and Supan then organised a meeting with him early this morning, at which Adul was promptly arrested.
This time, police hit the jackpot, seizing close to a kilo of ya-ice packed in a cheerful golf bag with a picture of a coconut on it, and another 25,240 ya ba pills.
Adul confessed he had regularly bought drugs in Phang Nga province, loaded them onto his longtail and motored from Khok Kloy the long way round the south end of Phuket before landing at a pier in Tambon Pa Khlok, where he delivered the drugs to Supan.
Police in Phang Nga are expected to follow up on information supplied by Adul about his drug sources.
Phuket police commander, Maj Gen Pekad Tantiwong, said police and local authorities have been handing out forms to local communities to identify drug hot-spots. The forms ask local people, anonymously, to identify known haunts of drug users. In this way 57 places have been identified.
“A strong community is very important in the fight against drugs,” Maj Gen Pekad said. “We’re trying to encourage local people to be aware of drug networks, and to look after their communities.”