Chain of raids nets 1,800 ya bah pills

PHUKET TOWN: The arrest on Friday afternoon of a woman found in possession of four tablets of ya bah led to Phuket Town police arresting three more people within hours and netting more than 1,800 tablets of the drug. The chain of seizures started with the arrest of Omaporn Sornnon, 26, from Khon Kaen, at 2 pm on Friday, after Pol Lt Akanit Darnpitaksad found her in possession of four tablets in an apartment on Sri Sena Rd. After her arrest, Omaporn confessed to police that she had bought the drug from Wimon Kongrit, 30, from Trang, and Pongupphar Damton, 24, from Surat Thani. Police swiftly organized a second raid to snare the two in their room at the PS Inn Hotel, on Ong Sim Phai Rd. Officers found 24 tablets of ya bah in the room and both men were charged with drug possession and trafficking. Wimon and Pongupphar, in turn, then informed on their supplier, Wipa Satao, a 21-year-old from Chiang Mai. Acting quickly, Pol Lt Col Preecha Kheaw-tanong organized the third bust of the afternoon. Undercover officers contacted Wipa, telling her that they wanted to buy 10 tablets of ya bah from her. They arranged to meet her at the car park of the Shell gas station on Chao Fa Nai Rd. Wipa fell for the trap and, when searched, was found to have the 10 tablets on her person. She admitted that she had more in her hotel room at the Pure Mansion Hotel, on Chao Fa Nai Rd. Police searched the room and found 1,780 ya bah tablets. Wipa said she had bought them from a hill-tribesman in Chiang Mai. She too was charged with possession and trafficking.