13-3-2024 (BANGKOK) Undercover police officers in Chiang Mai have apprehended a foreign national suspected of extensive drug trafficking activities. The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, was caught red-handed after an elaborate undercover operation involving the purchase of substantial quantities of illicit substances.
According to reports, the undercover officers orchestrated a covert operation, posing as buyers interested in acquiring various drugs from the suspect. The officers successfully purchased 12.5 grams of cocaine, 14.7 grams of ketamine, 192 grams of magic mushrooms, 13 grams of LSD, and 9.8 grams of MDMA, effectively securing evidence of the suspect’s illegal activities.
Armed with the procured evidence, the authorities swiftly moved in and apprehended the suspect, subsequently conducting a search of their room at a condominium located in the Chang Phueak subdistrict. The search yielded a significant cache of additional drugs, including 408 grams of cocaine, 595 grams of magic mushrooms, and 160 tablets of diazepam (Valium) and alprazolam (Xanax).
During the interrogation, the suspect allegedly admitted to reselling drugs to tourists through the encrypted messaging application Telegram. They further revealed that they had purchased the majority of the drugs, excluding the magic mushrooms, from a black man in Chiang Mai for a staggering sum of 800,000 baht. The magic mushrooms, however, were procured from another foreign national in Pai district of Mae Hong Son province at a cost of 20 baht per gram.
Authorities disclosed that the suspect had initially entered Thailand on a student visa but had previously been arrested for drug-related offenses in Bangkok. The investigation has now expanded to unravel potential drug networks operating behind user groups on Telegram, as law enforcement agencies work to dismantle the illicit drug trade in the region.
The suspect faces a multitude of charges, including possession and distribution of narcotics classified under various categories, such as Category 1 (LSD, MDMA, ketamine), Category 2 (cocaine, alprazolam), Category 4 (diazepam), and Category 5 (magic mushrooms).
