Three other members of the network were later arrested in Patong, the Bangkok Post reported.
A court in New York had issued an arrest warrant for Hunter on July 17, on the charge of smuggling drugs into the United States.
ThaiRath newspaper reported that Hunter was accused of killing a judge in the Philippines, and is a former member of the US Special Forces.
Capt Angkarn Yasanop of Phuket Immigration said, “Mr Hunter arrived in Phuket on September 6 after landing at Phuket International Airport, and was given a visa to stay in Thailand until October 5.”
A letter was then sent by US authorities to Thailand’s Immigration Police on September 16, which requested local assistance in the tracking down and arrest of Hunter.
At about 4.30pm yesterday, Pol Lt Gen Priewpan Damapong, deputy police commissioner of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, led the raid on the house, located close to the Loch Palm Golf Club.
Hunter has already been taken to Bangkok, where a press conference will be held later today (September 26) at the headquarters of the Crime Suppression Division.
The Bangkok Post reported today that sources said Thai investigators had worked closely with US officials in a"highly classified operation". Phuket police units and officials were not informed about the operation, the sources added.
The Post reported that Hunter was immediately taken to a house at Kathu Thani estate for interrogation after his arrest. The same team of police and investigators then searched for additional suspects in the case in the Patong beach area, leading to the apprehension of three more people.
The nationality of the other three was not revealed.