Phuket politician nabbed in meth bust

PHUKET: The vice president of Kathu Municipality was among three people arrested in Phuket for the sale of ya Ice (crystal methamphetamine) yesterday.

Kathu Police Crime Suppression Inspector Akanit Danpitaksat identified the suspect as 44-year-old Somkuan Somboon, arrested in a roadside sting operation in Kathu at about 4am.

The successful sting operation followed the arrest, at about 1am the same day, of 34-year-old Wittaya “King” Gingjampa.

The Kathu Police team, led by Lt Col Akanit, at 1am yesterday arrested Mr Witthaya in a home on Soi Trog Nam, off Rat-U-Thit 200 Pi Road, with six bags of ya ice weighing a total of nine grams.

Police then set up a sting operation that led to the arrest of fellow meth ring dealer Sineenart ‘Ann’ Niphat, age 39. She was arrested in Patong with eight bags of ya Ice, with a total weight of about 10 grams.

Under questioning, the pair identified Mr Somkuan as their supplier.

Kathu Police then set up a sting operation in which Ms Sineenart agreed to be resupplied with three grams of the powerful stimulant for 11,000 baht.

Mr Somkuan was arrested during a roadside rendezvous on Phra Phuket Kaew Road in tambon Kathu and sent to nearby Thung Thong Police District to be charged.

The other two suspects were charged at Kathu Police Station, which has jurisdiction over Patong.

— Pimwara Choksakulpan