Officials learned of the man’s antics only after photos were posted on social media, prompting police and officers from the Phuket Provincial Health Office (PPHO) to conduct the checks on Bangla Rd on Friday night (Aug 18), Phuket Provincial Police explained in a Facebook post last night (Aug 20).
Some 20 officers led by Patong Police Deputy Chief Pol Lt Col Somporn Surin began their checks after 10:30pm. Joining the police contingent was the Kathu District Deputy Chief, Patong Municipality officials and a group of volunteers.
Several venues on Bangla Rd were inspected to check for correct licenses to permit the sale of controlled herbs and to ensure that no sales were being made to people under the age of 20, minors or pregnant women. Further checks were made to ensure nobody was smoking maijuana in public spaces, officers confirmed.
No violations were found.
However, officers failed to find the man wanted for using his ‘weed blower’ to infuse people with a cloud of cannabis smoke.
Officers checked CCTV and later confirmed that the man was American national Angkhan Vorac Chhieng, who arrived in Thailand at Suvarnabhumi Airport on Aug 15. He was staying at a hotel on Bangla Rd.
Chhieng confessed that his purpose was to create promotional material for selling marijuana in other countries, and was not aware of “the wrongness of his actions”, Provincial Police said.
He also said he felt sorry for the unintended harm done to Phuket’s image as a tourist destination, and decided to make a video apology, Provincial Police continued.
Patong Police later confirmed that Chhieng left Phuket on Vietjet Flight VZ310 on Saturday (Aug 19).
“In response to the incident, local authorities have taken steps to ensure proper follow-through. The Patong Police Superintendent issued notifications to both the Immigration Office and Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, directing them to take appropriate actions within their respective spheres of authority,” the Provincial Police statement said.