Phuket Provincial Palad (Chief Administrative Officer) Rungruang Thimabutr led the briefing at 12:30pm at the Phuket Provincial Volunteer Defence Corps (OrSor) headquarters, outlining the results of the operation carried out late last night.
Joining the announcement were Thalang District Chief Wilailak Rueangphol and Phuket Provincial Defence Officer Danai Sukskul, alongside administrative officials and OrSor personnel.
Mr Rungruang explained that the operation stemmed from intelligence received by the Phuket Provincial Administration Special Operations Unit, which was tipped off by Thalang District officials about a planned drug transaction in Kathu
An informant had reportedly arranged via the Line messaging app to purchase 10,000 meth pills (ya bah) for B120,000 from a supplier believed to be based in a neighbouring country.
The information was escalated through official channels to Phuket Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn, who ordered a coordinated crackdown involving provincial, Thalang and Kathu district special operations units, he said.
Officers then devised a sting operation to intercept the suspect and expand the investigation into the wider network.
At around 8pm on Tuesday (Mar 31), the suspect, identified only as ‘Mr A’, contacted the informant and said he had parked a motorcycle carrying the drugs near Soi Baan Bang Thong School in Kathu.
Officers moved in on the location, identified themselves and conducted a search with the suspect’s consent. The search uncovered 16 bundles of meth pills, each containing 2,000 tablets, totalling 32,000 pills. A separate bag containing 56.35g of crystal meth was also seized.
The suspect was arrested at the scene and informed of multiple charges, including possession of Category 1 narcotics with intent to sell, attempted distribution, illegal drug use and driving under the influence of drugs, Mr Rungruang said.
Also confiscated additional items as evidence, including a digital scale, a grey Honda PCX motorcycle, a mobile phone and cash, he noted.
The suspect and seized items were taken to the Phuket Provincial Administration Office for formal processing before the case was handed over to investigators at Kathu Police Station for further legal action.
Mr Rungruang said the arrest forms part of ongoing efforts to suppress drug trafficking and distribution networks in Phuket, with further investigations underway to identify and apprehend additional suspects linked to the case.