Pattaya cops make a ‘clean sweep’ of ex-Dutch soldier’s drug stash

Pattaya police last night arrested a former Dutch soldier for illegal drug possession after raiding his condominium room. The 63 year old Simon Leonardus Petrus Sjerps was found with crystal methamphetamine and equipment allegedly used for producing date-rape drugs.

The raid, led by Police Colonel Nawin Thirawit, Superintendent of the Pattaya Police Station, took place yesterday, August 4, at 5.36pm. Officers searched the eighth-floor room of a condo in Central Pattaya and seized various items, including crystal meth, drug production equipment, unknown precursor chemicals, plastic zip bags, 120 euros in foreign currency, and 56,500 baht in Thai currency.

The investigation began when Pattaya police patrol officers noticed a suspicious foreigner, later identified as Sjerps, who had crystal meth hidden on his body in clear plastic zip bags. This discovery prompted the subsequent search of his condominium, where police were shocked to find a small-scale drug production setup.

Confiscated items included a 5-kilogramme camping gas stove, stainless steel bowls, glass stirring rods, four plastic gallons suspected to contain precursor chemicals, sodium hydroxide, clear plastic zip bags, drug paraphernalia, a plastic sealing machine, Viagra, a digital scale, and open jelly candy wrappers, which appeared to be used for concealing drugs or as an ingredient in drug production, said Pol. Col. Nawin.

“The suspect has been detained for further investigation, Initially, he faces charges of possessing and using crystal methamphetamine. Additional charges may follow based on further investigation into the production of rape drugs or other illegal activities.”

According to Pattaya police, Sjerps admitted to using crystal meth and confessed to using the equipment and chemicals to produce another drug. The Dutchman stated that he had mixed all the chemicals and planned to heat them but had not yet dared to try them, reported The Pattaya News.

In related news, the Thai Ministry of Public Health proposes reclassifying cannabis and hemp with over 0.2% THC as narcotics, banning their recreational use while acknowledging their medical benefits. This regulation, targeting specific cannabis parts, is set to be enforced by January 1, 2025, sparking national debate among stakeholders.