Ice and menace: Pattaya methamphetamine bust causes mayhem
A tip-off from fed-up locals led to a major methamphetamine bust in Pattaya this week but things turned truly wild when a raving suspect attacked civilians, claimed to be a cop’s son, and sparked a full-blown panic in the streets.
Pattaya City police yesterday May 5, swooped on a known drug hotspot in Jomtien Soi 3 after residents provided photos and reports of rampant drug activity in the area.
The sting, spearheaded by Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo and executed by Police Lieutenant Anek Prasitboon, Deputy Inspector of Investigations, saw undercover officers purchase 0.20 grammes of crystal meth, known locally as “ice,” from 28 year old suspected dealer Sutee Petchamlerd.
Once the transaction was complete, officers moved in and arrested Sutee on the spot. A search revealed he was carrying an extra 0.59 grammes of ice and a meth pill.
But the crackdown didn’t stop there.
Police conducted random drug tests on bystanders nearby, resulting in four more people testing positive for meth use: 42 year old Narachan Thongpha, 37 year old Atthaphon Sriphako, 27 year old Thanawat Makaew, and 39 year old Charin Saengao.
Two others were also arrested for possession:
- Sayan Namkam, 45, caught with 0.65 grammes of ice
- Anantawut Phrombut, 32, found with 0.49 grammes of ice
All seven were hauled off to Pattaya City Police Station for further questioning and legal action, Pattaya News reported.
Days earlier, chaos also erupted in the same neighbourhood.
On May 2 at 4.36pm, Lieutenant Colonel Prasit Boonprasit, head of the Pattaya City Police Drug Suppression Unit, led another operation in Jomtien Soi 3 following reports of a crazed man attacking people and booting cars, all while screaming that his dad was a police officer.
The incident caused mass panic, with terrified residents scrambling to avoid the raging man. CCTV footage traced his vehicle back to the area, where police suspected a deeper link to local drug trafficking.
What they uncovered confirmed their fears, a major meth operation and two suspects tied to the chaos. During the dramatic arrest, one dealer lashed out and injured a police officer, but both were eventually subdued.
“These arrests send a clear message,” said Police Lieutenant Anek. “We encourage the public to continue reporting drug activity. You can call 191 or our hotline at 082-7999-111 at any time.”
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