Ice dealer arrested at Big C

PHUKET: Police on Sunday arrested a man found in possession six grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine), Phuket City Police Superintendent Col Nos Svettalekha told a press conference yesterday.

After a tip-off from undercover police, plain-clothes officers searched Phuket native Chalermrat “Chai” Thongwong in front of the MK Suki restaurant at the Big C shopping mall on the bypass road at about 9 pm.

Police found 1.7 grams of ya ice in his jeans and said he was on his way to sell the drug to a group of teenagers, Col Nos said.

However, police failed to find the group of teenagers, he added.

A search of Chai’s house in Than Thong village, in Wichit, turned up 4.3 more grams of the drug.

Chai said that he had bought ya ice from his friend Wiwuth “Kob” Rakmuennoo in Haad Yai, who often comes to Phuket to deliver the drug, Col Nos said.

Chai transfered proceeds from selling the drug to Kob’s bank account by ATM, he added.

In the pair’s latest deal, Kob sold two bags of ya ice, each weighing 4.3g, with a total street value of more than 10,000 baht, Col Nos said.

Police are still searching for Kob, he added.