Phuket

Festival raids seize over 70k pills

Published

3 years ago

October 8, 2016

Festival raids seize over 70k pills | The Thaiger

PHUKET: Provincial police announced yesterday that they have seized nearly 72,000 methamphetamine pills, estimated to have a street value of 4 million baht, over the course of the past week.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Teeraphol Thipjaroen told the Phuket Gazette that the annual Vegetarian Festival brings with it a chance for dealers and suppliers to transfer drugs and cash in a more anonymous environment.

Gen Teeraphol said repeated interrogations allowed law enforcement to move against suspect after suspect in repeated raids.

“Our first suspect, Tanu Maidee, confessed that he got his drugs from Mooktad Boonprasop, who lives at the Nice Place apartment complex on Thepkasattri Road,” Gen Teeraphol said.

Gen Teeraphol claimed that Mr Tanu told police about yet another drug dealer named Sommard Poomi during his interrogation.

On October 5, Mr Tanu’s tip-off allowed police to capture Mr Sommard, along with 820 methamphetamine pills and a little more than three grams of crystal meth (ya ice). The same day, police raided Mr Mooktad’s apartment.

“Police founding an estimated 7,000 methamphetamine pills – also called ya bah, Thai for ‘crazy drug’ – 345 grams of ya ice, and an illegal handgun with 87 rounds of ammunition,” Gen Teeraphol said.

Police then interrogated Mr Mooktad, who reportedly confessed that he ordered drugs from a ‘Mr Shane’ via a middle-aged female courier named Chollada Musur.

The following day police set up a sting, telling Mr Mooktad to order 2,000 ya bah pills from Mr Shane. Police then arrested Ms Chollada when she arrived with Mr Mooktad’s order, and confiscated some 64,000 ya bah pills and about 276g of ya ice from her Chevrolet.

Mr Sommard, Mr Mooktad and Ms Chollada were charged with illegal procession of category 1 drugs with intention to sell. Mr Mooktad was also charged with possession of an illegal firearm and ammunition. Mr Tanu was charged with possession of a category 1 drug.

All together, police seized 71,810 ya bah pills and 625g of ya ice.

— Sukawin Tanthavanich

Patong

Phuket’s lifeguards say goodbye to a champion of local beach safety

Published

20 hours ago

August 18, 2019

The Thaiger

PHOTOS: Phuket Lifeguard Service

A commemoration ceremony has been held for Prathaiyuth Chuayuan, a local Phuketian who helped drive Phuket’s first beach lifeguard services. He passed away on Friday morning after a heart attack.

He first experienced chest pains whilst delivering his daughter to school in Phuket Town on Friday morning, drove himself immediately to the Vachira Hospital nearby but succumbed to cardiac arrest around 9am.

He was 57 years old.

He worked with Australian lifesavers to help train local lifeguards and improve the skills of the Phuket’s beach enthusiasts, and finally sought international accreditation for the growing body of competent Phuket lifeguards.

The Phuket Lifeguards Service, founded and run by Prathaiyuth and his wife Witanya, saved innumerable lives each year whilst battling Provincial Hall and local government for increased funding in annual contract negotiations.

Daren Jenner, a FOT (Friend of The Thaiger) and local safety officer for the International Surf Lifesaving Association, sent a message to us expressing his deepest condolences to Prathaiyuth’s wife, family and friends.

“I had many good conversations with him over the years. He was a good-hearted man who did his best in difficult and changing circumstances. A very big loss for Phuket and the lifesaving community here. ISLA sends our deepest respect for his long commitment to ocean safety in SE Asia.”

Phuket's lifeguards say goodbye to a champion of local beach safety | News by The Thaiger

Environment

Phuket villager braves the surf to rescue tangled turtle

Published

23 hours ago

August 18, 2019

Tanutam Thawan

Phuket villager braves the surf to rescue tangled turtle | The Thaiger

A local villager in Phuket’s north has risked his own life to retrieve a young sea turtle caught up in fishermen’s netting. The turtle was spotted, caught up in the branches of a fallen tree along the shores of Mai Khao beach. The monsoon was kicking up big waves and it’s unlikely the locals knew how to swim, especially in the surf conditions.

The local villager makes a few attempts to retrieve the turtle, eventually separating the turtle and netting from the tree branches with a meat cleaver.

After clearing the netting from around the turtle’s flippers and neck, it was taken by an officer from the local Phuket Department of Marine Resources for evaluation and treatment before it will be released back to the sea.

VIDEO: ห้องวีอาร์ ทะเลใต้ // @มานพ สิงห์ 8802

🔴 #ภูเก็ต #เต่าติดอวน วันนี้ 17 สิงหาคม 2562 ชาวบ้านได้ช่วยเหลือเต่าติดอวนพันตามคอลำตัว คลื่นได้ซัดเจ้าเต่าน้อย เข้าหาฝั่งหน้าหาดไม้ขาว ชาวบ้านได้แก้เชือกออกตามคลิป และได้เเจ้งเจ้าหน้าที่มารับไปอนุบาลเป็นที่เรียบร้อย #NewshawkPhuket Cr.ห้องวีอาร์ ทะเลใต้ // @มานพ สิงห์ 8802
Posted by เหยี่ยวข่าว ภูเก็ต Newshawk Phuket on Saturday, 17 August 2019

Environment

Marium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach.

Published

23 hours ago

August 18, 2019

The Thaiger

The orphaned female baby dugong, winning the hearts of many and helping to educate Thais about the importance of the local dugong population, has died with plastic waste lining its stomach, prompting a surge of mourning on social media.

Marium was found in April off the coast of Krabi, southern Thailand, and photos of her nuzzling marine biologists quickly went viral. When a second orphaned dugong was found, subsequently named Jamil by Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana Rajakanya, the pair became internet stars.

Dugongs, a species of sea cow, are listed as “vulnerable” on the IUCN Red List, facing environmental threats including pollution, habitat loss and hunting. In Thailand, Marium and Jamil soon became symbols for the conservation of the oceans. Fans could watch Marium on a live feed, receiving veterinary treatment, and being fed up to 15 times a day.

But last week the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources posted that Marium was sick and refusing food. Marium died just after midnight on Saturday morning. An autopsy revealed plastic debris in the intestine, resulting in inflammation and the accumulation of gas, as well as a respiratory infection and a buildup of pus.

The DMCR posted the announcement of the death of “little angel” Marium.

Veterinarian Nantarika Chansue, who treated Marium, says, “She taught us how to love and then went away as if saying please tell everyone to look after us and conserve her species..”

Marium, the baby dugong internet star, dies. Plastic found in stomach. | News by The Thaiger