Police roll up Phuket drug network
PHUKET: Four people were arrested on Sunday and Monday and more than 6,000 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills seized as police rolled up a small network of dealers in Thalang District.
Wednesday 24 August 2011, 03:02AM
On Sunday, at about 8pm, Thalang police arrested an unnamed 18-year-old in possession of four ya ba pills. During questioning he confessed to buying the drugs from a man he named as Somboon Pinit.
Police raided Somboon’s house in Tambon Thepkrasattri at midday on Monday, arresting him and seizing 5,800 ya ba pills, a rifle with 25 bullets and B3,510 cash.
Somboon confessed he had bought the ya ba from a man he named as Pongsathorn Khangkha. In the afternoon police raided Pongsathorn’s house in Tambon Srisoonthorn. In this raid they seized 350 ya ba tablets, 0.7 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and B6,500 cash.
At a press conference following the arrests, Thalang District Chief Naruenart Supattaraprateep admitted the drug situation in Thalang area is “quite serious”.
