In addition, two foreign tourists, a Belgian and a Frenchman, were arrested in Kalim for a grand total of 13 arrests.
The biggest busts were in Phuket Town, with 555 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills, 40.78 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) and two homemade guns being seized. Police also impounded a Honda Jazz car and B8,000 in cash.
The seven arrested are all linked, police said; five are users, while two, Kriangkrai Kwanmuang, 36, and Natee Boonchuay, 24, are drug dealers.
The two were arrested on Sunday (November 20) after police interrogated two women drug users, Wiparat Sainamsai, 19, and Ornjan Chuaykuea, 22, whom they caught the night before.
Three more drug users, Chaowarit Kwanmuang, 26, Sorapong Kwanmuang, 31 and Theerapong Pimpa, 24, were arrested the same day. All the men involved are from Nakhon Sri Thammarat.
Over the same weekend, the other arrests went as follows:
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IN THUNGTONG, KATHU: Songsak Ruangtho, 33, a chef at the Novotel Phuket Resort in Patong, was arrested at his home on Saturday night (November 19). Thungtong police visited Songsak after receiving a report about his illegal activities from Cherng Talay police.
Officers found 2.74 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in his pockets. A search of his home turned up another 3.54 grams, plus drug paraphernalia, B21,100 in cash, a bank account book showing a balance of more than B1 million, and a list of clients for drugs.
After questioning Songsak, the following day police also arrested Wiroj Jit-aksorn, 35, a former chef in the same hotel, who allegedly acted as a drug runner for Songsak, but who also – police say – dealt drugs on his own account.
From him they seized 32 pills of ya ba (methamphetamine), 5.57 grams of ya ice, a semi-automatic pistol and 110 bullets.
The two men are now detained in Phuket Provincial Prison awaiting trial.
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IN CHALONG: Pol Lt Col Jaral Bangprasert, investigation inspector of Chalong Police Station, said that a tip-off led police to a construction camp in Soi Nakok near the Luang Poo Supa temple in Chalong.
There they arrested Somkiat Nuanui, 24, from Krabi after finding 150 ya ba (methamphetamine) pills and 7.5 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in his jeans pocket.
Officers then searched his rented accommodation in Moo 4, Chalong. They found more ya ice in a bag hanging on a clothes line. He was taken to Chalong Police Station and charged with possession with intent to sell.
The second arrest came the following day (November 19) after another tip-off, this time that drug dealers were operating at the side of Chaofa East Rd, selling drugs to teenagers.
Police stopped Arm Phirom, 21, from Songkhla, and found a plastic bag containing 6.5 grams of ya ice in one of his pockets. He was taken to Chalong Police station to be charged with possession.
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IN KALIM: Two tourists were arrested by police on Thursday (November 17) at around 11pm for possession of marijuana.
The drug was found when the two – named by police as Kevin Baukens, 24, from Belgium, and Sebastian Jbiloo, 30, from France – were pulled over on their motorbike at a routine police checkpoint at Kalim Beach.
Searching the bike, Kathu Police found 10 grammes of marijuana in a plastic bag under the seat.
The two admitted using the marijuana but denied having it for sale.
Pol Maj Jongserm Preecha said the duo are now in detention awaiting sentencing at Phuket Provincial Court.
– Photo by Phuket City Police.