Japanese refugee in Phuket pot bust
PHUKET: A Japanese man fleeing the flood waters in Bangkok was caught with about 24 grams of marijuana this morning as he entered Phuket by car.
Police stopped a white Honda Jazz at about 9:30am at Tah Chat Chai checkpoint for a routine inspection.
In the car were three Japanese men, including Haruyuki Masuoka, 27.
Police found four plastic bags containing a total of 24.16 grams of marijuana hidden in a tissue box inside a bag full of clothes on the back seat of the car.
Masuoka, who was the front-seat passenger, confessed to police that the marijuana was his and that the other two men were not involved with the drugs, police said.
“After questioning all three, we released two of them with the car – but not Haruyuki, who was charged with possession of marijuana,” said Tah Chat Chai Police Officer Thanom Thongpan.
“He is now being held at the Tah Chat Chai Police Station and tomorrow he’ll be transferred to Phuket Provincial Court, where he will be bailed,” he said.
“They were running away from the floods in Bangkok and coming to Phuket to travel. Haruyuki probably works in Bangkok as he lives there and his passport shows that he often travels from Japan to Thailand,” Sen Sgt Maj Thanom said.
“His case will probably take about a month [to clear],” he added.
— Atchaa Khamlo
