Police seize mystery powder

PHUKET TOWN: Following a tip-off, police raided a house on Wichit Songkhram Rd yesterday and seized more than 200 tonnes of powdered mineral. Some 10 police officers from the Crime Suppression Division Region 5, led by Pol Col Itti Nantapruksa, Superintendent, and Pol Lt Col Karn Lekhawanich, Deputy Superintendent, raided 64/1-2 Wichit Songkhram Rd about 6:30 pm. Supanee Rojananont, Duty Chief of the Phuket Primary Industry and Mining Office (PPIMO), told the Gazette that the police had asked the PPIMO to identify the powder, which was found in two large square concrete pits next to the building. The occupants of the house denied being the owners of the mystery powder, which they said belonged to a previous owner of the house, now deceased. Police told the Gazette that it is illegal in Thailand to be in possession of more than two kilograms of mineral ore, but were unable to say why this was the case, or which law applied. K. Supanee said, “Whoever owns the powder had more than two kilograms of mineral in their possession so the police seized all 200 tonnes. “Once we have identified it, we can estimate how much it is worth. If the owners come forward, they will have to take legal action to reclaim it. If no one comes forward, then it will be sold off.”