Thai police dismantle Taiwanese drug syndicate in Bangkok raid

Thai police recently dismantled a Taiwanese drug syndicate operating in Bangkok, seizing over 300 kilogrammes of narcotics. The operation targeted party-goers in the Min Buri area, leading to significant arrests and a substantial haul of drugs.

Officers, led by Police Lieutenant General Samran Nuanma, Assistant Commissioner-General of the Royal Thai Police, and Police Lieutenant General Thiti Saengsawang, conducted the raid yesterday, October 8. The investigation was spearheaded by senior officers from Min Buri and Rom Klao police stations, targeting a lavish residence in Min Buri and a luxury condominium in Ramkhamhaeng.

The arrests included three Taiwanese nationals: 35 year old Tsai Yi-Han, 27 year old Hsieh Teng-Wei, 41 year old Wang Kai-Ti, and a 19 year old Thai woman who was identified only by her nickname, Achi. These individuals were found with a considerable stash of drugs, including 277 kilogrammes of ketamine, 18 kilogrammes of Happy Water (a form of methamphetamine), and other narcotics, said Police Lieutenant General Samran.

“We received a tip-off about foreigners frequently hosting clandestine drug parties. Upon investigation, we found that the activities were within the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan Police Division 3. This led to the coordinated raid.”

The investigation revealed that the drug syndicate imported narcotics from a neighbouring country in the north and stored them in Bangkok for distribution to party-goers, both locals and foreigners.

Given the large quantity of drugs seized, police are also probing whether there was an international distribution network, particularly to Taiwan and other countries, as ketamine is highly sought after abroad.

Police Major General Kiattikul Sontinan disclosed that on October 5, the raid team executed a search warrant at a house in Rom Klao Road, Min Buri.

“Upon arrival, the suspects attempted to flee, but we apprehended them. Inside, we discovered a variety of drugs, including ice, ecstasy, and ketamine in various forms.”

During the raid, police found a man and a woman in a bedroom on the second floor. They seized ice, ecstasy pills, ketamine powder, and keys to a luxury condominium. Another room revealed a man who attempted to escape by jumping from the upper floor but was captured by the officers. Additional searches in the residence uncovered more narcotics, including ketamine packaged in green tea bags, Happy Water packets, Ice (crystal meth), and other drug paraphernalia.

Further searches at the luxury condominium in Ramkhamhaeng, guided by the seized keys and key cards, revealed 276 bags of ketamine and 18 bags of Happy Water hidden in the unit. The drugs were cleverly concealed in green tea and brown coffee bags.

The investigation pointed to a man known as Ake, who was described as a party enthusiast and a key player in the drug trafficking network. His wife, Achi, previously worked as a PR girl at a bar and was responsible for contacting suppliers and transporting ketamine and Happy Water using rented vehicles and a Toyota Alphard. Wang and Hsieh were tasked with distributing the drugs in entertainment venues and repackaging them for covert delivery to customers.

The four suspects face serious charges, including the distribution of Category 1 narcotics (meth or Ice and Happy Water) and Category 2 narcotics (ketamine), possession with intent to distribute, and illegal commercial distribution. These activities pose significant public health risks and threaten national security.

The police have transferred the suspects and the seized narcotics to the Min Buri Police Station for further legal proceedings, reported KhaoSod.