Five nabbed in Rawai sea gypsy village drug bust

An official report still calling sea gypsies “Thai Mai” (“New Thais”) confirmed that the raid at the sea gypsy village was on Thursday night (Oct 5).

The drug suppression team, led by Weerasak Khamkerd of Muang Phuket District Office, arrived at the village around 9pm and conducted a search in one of the houses. Five men were present inside at that time.

The raid party failed to find any illegal substances or items. Yet the men inside were “frightened, nervous, looked suspicious, and acted like they were willing to escape,” according to the official report.

When questioned, the men finally confessed to having taken methamphetamine. Urine tests confirmed the suspects’ statements, so all five were taken to Chalong Police Station to be charged with the illegal use of a category 1 drug (methamphetamine).

Four of the suspects were identified in the report as residents of Rawai’s Moo 2, where the sea gypsy village is located. The fifth was identified as a resident of Mai Khao.

The raid on Oct 5 continued the series of operations within the frame of an anti-drug campaign ordered by Muang Phuket District Chief Pairote Srilamoon.

As officials explained in the first report in September, the “proactive measures to prevent and suppress drugs” will last three months, from September to November.

The campaign aims to “put pressure on users, dealers, and those involved with drugs to suppress the epidemic of drugs in the area to be reduced and eliminated in all forms.”