Phuket police bust uncovers dope ‘brick’ in woman’s shorts

PHUKET: Phuket Police acting on a tip-off arrested two people for possession and intent to sell marijuana on Monday night.

One of the arrested was a woman who had a “brick” of marijuana stuffed into her shorts. The other was a man who was already wanted for dope charges.

After receiving the tip-off that “someone” was selling drugs at a block of rented rooms on Chao Fa East Road, Chalong Police set up a team of officers and staged a stakeout, explained Investigating officer Maj Jaran Bangprasert.

While keeping the building under surveillance, officers noticed 22-year-old Namtip Da-arboot sitting on a motorbike near a local karaoke bar, at about 10:30pm.

Considering the length of time she was waiting and how she was behaving, officers decided to introduce themselves and asked to search her.

To their surprise, officers found Namtip with a “brick” of dried marijuana, sealed and wrapped in brown paper, tucked into her shorts.

The officers arrested her for possession with intent to sell a Class 5 drug and seized the brick, which measured 5x16x4 centimeters, as evidence.

While police were discovering the brick in her pants, they noticed a man lurking around the karaoke bar.

Believing the man was acting suspiciously, they stopped him and identified him as Sombong Naoprai, 28.

Sombong already had a warrant issued for his arrest on charges of possession of a Class 5 drug, specifically marijuana, with intent to sell.

The warrant, issued on February 24, noted that Sombong was arrested near the same karaoke bar on Chao Fa East Road where he was arrested again on Monday.

Sombong is now in custody and will face due legal process, Maj Jaran said.

— Warisa Temram