Officers arrested Chalerm ‘Lerm’ Plongcharoen, 52, at Ko Leng Bar at Bang Tao Beach, investigators at Cherng Talay Police reported. The time and date of Chalerm’s arrest was not reported.
According to police, officers seized several items during the arrest, including 56 grammes of marijuana buds and 79 pre-rolled cannabis cigarettes ready for smoking.
Also confiscated were a pack of rolling papers, a pack of small clear plastic bags measuring 7x13cm, a cannabis grinder, a digital scale and a QR code payment sheet in the suspect’s name.
Chalerm, who police said is registered at an address in Mai Khao, has been charged with selling a controlled substance (marijuana) without permission.
Police did not disclose whether the suspect was operating a licensed cannabis business.
Mr Chalerm was taken to Cherng Talay Police Station for further legal proceedings, police noted in their report.
NIGERIAN ARREST
Meanwhile, a Nigerian national was arrested on Bang Tao Beach after police received a tip-off that he was allegedly selling drugs to tourists, with officers later discovering he was staying in Thailand illegally.
Officers from Cherng Talay Police Station arrested the suspect during a crackdown operation carried out between Mar 7-12 targeting illegal activity by foreigners in tourist areas, noted a report by Cherng Talay Police posted on Friday (Mar 13).
According to the police report, officers received information from an informant that a foreign man was selling drugs to tourists in the Bang Tao area. Investigators subsequently planned an operation to arrest the suspect at an entertainment venue on the beach.
During the attempt to detain him, the suspect reportedly tried to flee. However, officers had split into two teams and were able to surround and apprehend him after a brief pursuit.
Police later identified the suspect as Obi Somadina Emmanuel, a 30-year-old Nigerian national. After checking his immigration status, officers found he had entered and remained in the Kingdom without permission.
He was charged with being a foreign national residing in Thailand without authorisation.
Police did not report any drug charges in the arrest announcement, but said the investigation was initiated following allegations that the suspect had been selling narcotics to tourists.
The suspect was taken into custody at Cherng Talay Police Station for further legal proceedings.