Police raids uncover drug dens in Soi Ya Bah, Phuket Town

PHUKET: Police yesterday arrested two men after separate raids on the same small street in Samkong, Phuket Town, resulted in the seizure of 1,818 pills of ya bah (methamphetamine) and 4.99 grams of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine).

Acting on a tip-off, officers arrived at the house of Worasak Bamrung, 30, in Soi Prayoon 3/1 (map here) at 3am.

A search of the premises uncovered five blue ziplock bags each containing 200 ya bah pills, a clear plastic bag with 18 more ya bah pills, and two more plastic bags, one containing 3.89 grams of ya ice and the other 1.10 grams of the drug.

Officers also seized as evidence a Nokia mobile phone, drug paraphernalia and an orange Mazda pickup truck.

During questioning by police, Mr Worasak named Withawat Ardharn as his supplier, said Col Jaroon Bangprasit of the Phuket Provincial Police.

“We raided Withawat’s rental house in the same street at 2pm yesterday,” Col Jaroon told the Phuket Gazette.

“A search of the house uncovered four plastic bags each containing 200 ya bah pills. The bags matched those seized in the arrest of Mr Worasak,” he said.

Both men were charged with possession of category 1 drug with intent to sell, Col Jaroon confirmed.

— Kritsada Mueanhawong