Four busted in ya bah raids

PHUKET TOWN: Four men are being held at Phuket Town Police Station after police launched a series of ya bah (methamphetamine) raids. Officers from the local Drugs Suppression unit on Monday arrested Narakwan Hutem, 30, and Winit Chotepichit, 31, for dealing ya bah. Acting on a tip-off, officers raided a house in Tambon Taladyai where they found Narakwan with 42 ya bah pills and Winit with 30 pills in their trousers’ pockets. The two men were arrested and taken to Phuket Town Police Station where they were charged with trafficking and possession of ya bah. At 11 am yesterday, Drugs Suppression officers raided a house at Koh Kaew where they found Teerak Kongsit, 26, with five ya bah pills as well as a .38-caliber pistol and shotgun, both unregistered. He too was taken to Phuket Town Police Station where he was charged with possession of ya bah and illegal possession of firearms. Then, at 2 pm yesterday, Piradech Boonsom, 32, was arrested and charged with possession and trafficking of ya bah after he attempted to sell ya bah to an undercover policeman at Kittikorn Hotel, Surin Rd Soi 3. The small sting operation netted 193 ya bah pills. Piradech joined the other three accused at the station, where he awaits trial.