Pol Lt Col Amnauy Kraiwutanan, Chief Superintendent of Thalang police station, told The Phuket News, “Our team had been gathering information for a while. Following the arrests we expect to find more growers and dealers.”
The raids, on Wednesday (February 20), began with Preecha Krajit, 19. Police found large kratom trees in his garden. They cut down the trees, collected the leaves, and weighed them. They totalled 150 kilograms.
They then raided the home of 44-year-old Uthit Krabithong and carried out the same procedure, bagging 330 kilograms of leaves.
Finally they visited the home of Chaleaw Yodpakdee, 51, and seized another 300 kilograms of the illegal leaves.
All three men were charged with possession of drugs with intent to sell, and were locked up in Phuket Provincial prison to await trial.
Widely regarded as the latest plant-based high, kratom has psychoactive properties that makes it potentially addictive and its users more likely to need treatment at a kratom rehab facility.
Video by Thalang Police.