1,267 ya bah pills seized in Mai Khao

MAI KHAO: Following a random vehicle inspection, Tah Chat Chai Police on Sunday night arrested three people for possession of ya bah (methamphetamine) with intent to sell and seized 1,267 pills.

The arrests were announced at a press conference held Monday afternoon at Phuket City Police Station.

Attending were Phuket Vice-Governor Worapot Rattasima, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Decha Budnampetch, Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Paween Pongsirin, and Tah Chat Chai Police Superintendent Col Sakchai Limcharoen and his drug investigation unit.

Col Sakchai said that at about 9:30 pm on Sunday, officers at a checkpoint in Mai Khao Village 7 pulled over a motorcycle being ridden by 21-year-old Pongdanai Jinirat for a routine inspection.

Under the seat they found a stash of about 300 ya bah pills in six plastic bags.

Pongdanai confessed to possession of the drugs and agreed to call his dealer, 31-year-old Prapate Thayeng, to arrange a sale at the home of Prapate’s 18-year-old girlfriend, Saowanee Tonglahorm, in Mai Khao Village 2, Col Sakchai said.

At the home, police found almost 1,000 more pills and arrested Prapate and Saowanee.

A total of 1,267 pills were seized along with 40,000 baht in cash, a Honda Civic sedan, a Honda Click motorcycle, a gold necklace, three bank books, eight ATM cards, four mobile phones, two wallets, a designer handbag, a Giordano watch, a Sony Playstation and a digital camera.

Prapate and his relative Prajak Thayeng were arrested by Tah Chat Chai police last year. Prapate was acquitted, but Prajak was sentenced to prison for life, Col Sakchai said.

Following Sunday’s arrest, Prapate confessed to running drugs from Bangkok to Phuket in lots of 2,000 pills in return for payments ranging from 20,000 to 30,000 baht, he added.

Prapate normally sold in bulk. After his planned sale fell through, he was forced to keep the drugs at his girlfriend’s home and try to sell them wholesale, it was explained.

Despite the drugs being found in Pongdanai’s motorbike, Prapate denied that Pongdanai or Saowanee were involved.

Gen Decha said the case and other recent arrests indicate there is still a high demand for ya bah in Phuket.

There are currently about 40 outstanding warrants to arrest suspected dealers in Phuket, he added.