Swiss man caught offering illegal medicine after 8 years of hiding in Thailand

Officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) today arrested a Swiss man at a house in the Isaan province of Kalasin after he escaped arrest for manufacturing and offering illegal medicines in Switzerland and hid in Thailand for more than eight years.

Swiss authorities contacted the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs in early October to seek cooperation in returning the wanted suspect, 64 year old Alfred, to Switzerland.

According to Swiss authorities, Alfred produced and supplied several types of illegal medicines from 2012 to 2015 before fleeing to Thailand. His factory was located in the canton of Aargau in Switzerland and was raided by authorities in 2015.

Officers seized illegal medicines worth 650,000 Swiss francs and several documents relating to the ordering of the illegal substances. The drugs included Viagra, steroids and Lorcaserin. He made a profit of 112,896 Swiss francs (4.560 million baht) on the sale to just one customer. Most of his clients were muscle builders.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs referred the case to CIB officers, who later discovered that Alfred was living in a house in the Pon Thong sub-district, Mueang Kalasin district, Kalasin province. Officers then raided his house and made an arrest today. No illegal items were found in his home.

Alfred faces three charges, including production, processing and sale of illegal drugs and substances; production, processing and sale of stimulants; and money laundering. He will be transferred to Switzerland for further trial and punishment.

In related news, an Australian man who had taken refuge in Thailand was arrested at his luxury condominium in Phuket in August. The man reportedly fled a drug charge in Australia.

The foreigner entered Thailand on a student visa and kept changing his accommodation to avoid arrest. He also urged his girlfriend to carry out all financial transactions for him to cover his tracks. However, Thai police managed to locate and arrest him. Officers did not say how long the Australian had been hiding in Phuket.

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