Kratom
- Thailand News
13 year old Thai boy dies after ketamine injection by his friends
The family of a 13 year old Thai boy suspected his friends of killing him with a poisonous kratom drink. The teenager’s friends later confessed to giving the victim an injection of ketamine, which led to his death. The teenager, Akkarawat “Tigger” Phonlasen, was found lying lifeless on the sofa in his home in Bangkok on the morning of July…
- Health
Mayo Clinic issues warning that kratom is unsafe and ineffective
Kratom, an herbal extract from the leaves of the Mitragyna speciosa tree native to Southeast Asia, has gained popularity in recent years. Marketed as a mood lifter, energy booster, pain reliever, and remedy for opioid withdrawal symptoms, it is commonly sold in health stores and online. Users report that at low doses, kratom acts as a stimulant, increasing alertness and…
- Thailand News
Woman arrested for selling kratom tea to teens in Songkhla
Police in Rattaphum, Songkhla, arrested a woman for openly selling kratom leaf tea, with teenagers reportedly becoming addicted. The operation seized 500 bottled kratom teas, sold around the clock. Rattaphum District Chief Wilailak Rueangphon ordered Sub-Lieutenant Surasak Chanakit to lead a team, including local health officers, to apprehend a vendor selling kratom leaf tea from a rented house. The house,…
- Pattaya News
Kratom caper: Thai cops shrimp on illegal juice joint
The Royal Thai Police (RTP) swooped on an abandoned shrimp warehouse in Samut Sakhon following reports of a man distributing all-you-can-drink kratom juice to immigrant workers. Mueang Samut Sakhon Police Station officers, alongside relevant agencies, responded to complaints from residents about a group of Burmese workers frequently gathering at the warehouse for kratom juice. Signs advertising a drink buffet were…
- Health
Beware as kratom usage is linked to skin hyperpigmentation
Imagine buying an over-the-counter herbal supplement, only to end up with strange blue-grey patches on your skin. That’s the surprising and alarming reality for some users of kratom, a plant-based supplement gaining popularity for its opioid-like effects. Widely available in convenience stores, smoke shops, and online, kratom is now being linked to cases of hyperpigmentation, most notably on the face…
- Road deaths
Truck’s roof tears off in tunnel, hits motorcyclist in Chon Buri
A high-roofed, enclosed pickup truck caused a chaotic scene yesterday when the driver attempted to pass through a tunnel, resulting in its roof being torn off and crashing into a following motorcycle, injuring the rider. The incident occurred at approximately 10pm yesterday, May 7, at the Chak Samo tunnel in the Don Hua Lo sub-district, Mueang district, Chon Buri province.…
- Thailand News
Health concerns rise with high mitragynine kratom drinks
Public health officials issued a stern warning regarding the rising trend of kratom-infused drinks, highlighting that these beverages may contain dangerously high levels of mitragynine, a compound found in the kratom plant. The Department of Medical Sciences, after conducting safety tests across various regions in March, revealed that all 52 samples of kratom-mixed beverages contained mitragynine levels ranging from 22…
- Crime News
Chon Buri officials bust illegal kratom juice operations targeting kids
Police in Banglamung district, Chon Buri province, launched a coordinated operation yesterday that resulted in the dismantling of illegal kratom juice production sites known for distributing the substance to minors. The district’s administrative head, along with health officials and local police, led the crackdown on these clandestine establishments, netting nearly 2,000 bottles of the illicit mixture. The operation targeted three…
- Pattaya News
Thailand’s ONCB hosts dialogue following decriminalisation of cannabis and kratom
Hot on the trail of the decriminalisation of cannabis and kratom, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) hosted a dialogue dubbed Perspectives and Feedbacks After Cannabis and Kratom Left the Narcotics Act. The main aim of the discourse was to amass opinions from various stakeholders, focusing on methods to protect the youth and children from potential abuse of…
- Phuket News
Phuket grocery owner busted for illicit kratom water trade
A sweeping police operation in Phuket culminated in the arrest of a man found in possession of an astonishing 315 bottles of the outlawed beverage known as kratom water. Somsak Kiattikhan, a 44 year old grocery store owner, was apprehended on Saturday, January 20, following an intelligence tip-off regarding the sale of the illicit drink to local youths. The swoop took…
- Pattaya News
Pattaya police arrest local vendor for selling kratom drinks laced with cough syrup
A recent Pattaya police operation led to the arrest of a local stall owner who was accused of peddling Kratom drinks mixed with cough syrup to the youth in the area. The suspect, a 44 year old man known as Nakarin, was apprehended by Nongprue Police officers and now faces charges related to the sale of these illicit beverages. The…
- Thailand News
Thailand enforces cautionary sign display for kratom sales, restricts alcohol promotions
Cracking down on the sale of psychoactive kratom, Thailand’s Ministry of Public Health has mandated all vendors to prominently display a cautionary sign at their point-of-sale. The sign is a warning to individuals under the age of 18, as well as pregnant and breastfeeding women, prohibiting the purchase of the substance. This directive became operational on Saturday, following its announcement…
- Crime News
Brewing trouble: Kratom tea shop gets steeped in controversy after midnight raid
In a joint operation, Khon Kaen police raided a local establishment, Suppaweed, known for selling kratom tea intermixed with cough medicine. The kratom tea raid, which occurred yesterday, was initiated due to various complaints about the shop’s 24-hour operation and its habit of creating noise disturbances late into the night. The kratom tea raid team, led by Police Captain Danai…
- South Thailand News
Juicy bust: Thai police squeeze illicit kratom factory
A substantial operation by the Royal Thai Police (RTP) yesterday, culminated in the seizure of an illicit factory manufacturing kratom leaf juice. The raid led to the confiscation of around 3000 bottles of cough syrup, three guns, and the arrest of one suspect. The RTP stormed into the clandestine factory situated along Khlong Toei-Khlong Ple Road nearby the Kho Hong…
- Thailand News
Thai man ‘nearly dies’ from replacing water with kratom tea
A Thai man says he “nearly died” after replacing drinking water with kratom tea. Now, he’s warning others against abusing the formally-illegal plant. Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa) is a tropical evergreen tree native to Southeast Asia. The leaves of the kratom tree are known for their opioid and stimulant-like effects. Leaves of the kratom tree have been used for centuries in Thailand,…
- Thailand News
Pervert robs and sexually assaults owner of kratom shop
Police officers in the Tung Song district in the southern province of Nakhon Si Thammarat are on the hunt for a pervert who robbed a local kratom shop and sexually assaulted its female owner by groping her private part before fleeing the scene. The CCTV footage of the incident circulating on Thai social media shows a man wearing a jacket…
- Thailand video news
Thailand News Today | Raped Thai actress further abused by police
A Thai actress sought the help of a celebrity lawyer after police repeatedly ignored her claims she had been drugged and raped by the nephew of a prominent politician. The actress, singer, and songwriter made public the alleged rapist contacted her via Instagram to talk about work. They agreed to meet at a shopping mall on August 9 but…
- Thailand video news
Bangkok Airport speeds up check-in system for travellers | GMT
Snake encounters are reported every 15 minutes in Bangkok. New law around the Kratom plant comes into effect in Thailand. Verdict on Prayut’s tenure in 30 days soonest. New PVS check-in system to speed up Suvarnabhumi Airport. All this and more on today’s Good Morning Thailand.
- Crime News
New law around Kratom plant comes into effect Thailand
A new law around kratom, a plant native to Southeast Asia, has officially taken effect in Thailand yesterday (Saturday). Kratom leaves are used as a mild stimulant and painkiller. The new law, the Kratom Act of 2022, allows people to sell kratom-based products such as foods and drinks, online. In the past, people could sell only plants and leaves. This…
- Thailand News
Thai woman dresses as bear to sell more Kratom
Now that kratom is legal in Thailand, one woman in the Isaan province Buriram is dressing up in a bear costume and standing on the side of the road to attract business. Apparently, it has worked and her roadside sales of kratom leaves have shot up to over 1,000 baht per day. 40 year old Monradee Mordham from Udon Thani has…
- Thailand News
Kratom can legally be grown and leaves can be sold commercially next week
Starting next Tuesday, Kratom can be grown and its leaves, which have mind-altering characteristics, can be sold commercially in the Land of Smiles without the threat of prosecution. Also, people who have been detained for Kratom related offences will be released and their charges will be dropped. Currently, there are 1,038 people in prison for Kratom related offences. They will…
- Crime News
Kratom legalised, over 8,000 people will have charges cleared
With kratom being removed from the list of illegal narcotics in Thailand officially on August 24, the Office of Narcotics Control Board says charges will be dropped or cleared for over 8,000 people. The ONCB announced that about 1,000 people who had been convicted of use, sale or possession of the plant traditionally used in herbal medicine will have their…
- Thailand News
Legalised marijuana up next? Courts get closer to legalising kratom
Even though kratom will soon be legal in Thailand, don’t rush to plant it at home yet It’s reported that kratom will be allowed to be used as traditional medicine by August of this year. The plant has been considered an illegal narcotic for decades. Previously, kratom was listed as a Class 5 Narcotic substance under the Narcotics Act. Taking,…
- Phuket News
Phuket police raids nab suspects for allegedly having guns, drugs, kratom
Yesterday, a raid in Phuket grabbed 5 alleged drug dealers. They confiscated over 1,000 Yaba pills (meth), crystal meth, guns and ammunition. One man was also arrested for allegedly having kratom leaves. According to the police report 33 year old Theerasat ‘Jack’ Onrat was arrested for allegedly possessing 940 yaba pills. Police confiscated his mobile phone and his pickup truck…
- Crime News
Men arrested on drug charges after police chase in Phuket
2 men were arrested on drug charges after a 20 kilometre police chase in Phuket yesterday. The pursuit ended when the men crashed their motorbike into a parked car. Officers searched the motorbike and found 3 bags of kratom in the boot. An officer says he first approached the men because they were acting suspicious. The men sped off, prompting…
- Thailand News
House votes to remove kratom from Thailand’s narcotics list
The Thai House of Representatives voted to remove the plant kratom from the Thailand’s narcotics list and classify it as a controlled substance to be used for medicinal purposes. Kratom, a plant in the coffee family, is known for its relaxing effects and has been used in traditional medicine. In a 319-7 vote, with 3 abstentions, the House agreed to…
- Crime News
Clash with kratom smugglers by Songhkla border leaves 1 Malaysian cop killed and 1 injured
A clash with kratom drug smugglers by Thailand ‘s Songhkla border has left 1 Malaysian cop killed and 1 injured. The clash happened at around 2am this mornign as a Malaysian policeman came up on 13 men acting suspiciously near the border on the Malaysian side, which is opposite of Sadao district. Gunshots were exchanged and 2 Thai smugglers were arrested…
- Crime News
Burmese man busted with 20 kilograms of kratom
A Myanmar man has been busted with 20 kilograms of kratom after he illegally crossed a natural border into Thailand in the southern Muang district in Prachuap Khiri Khan. Border patrol police and administrative officials were patrolling Ban Hup Phueng, a village near the natural pass on the Myanmar border, when they noticed a man walking with a shoulder bag.…
- Thailand News
Phuket police arrest 6 after finding large amounts of methamphetamine in raid
Phuket Provincial Police have arrested 6 people after finding large amounts of methamphetamine and other drugs during a raid. One suspect alone allegedly had 7.6 kilograms of crystal meth (ya ice) and over 12,500 methamphetamine pills (ya bah). 29 year old Surasak ‘Bank’ Wijit and 27 year old Panida ‘Mei’ Saeyang were arrested at an apartment car park in Soi…
- Crime News
Kratom Food Panda-monium in Phuket
Phuket Police have arrested Grab and Foodpanda delivery drivers for transport and possession of kratom. Yesterday morning, two men were riding together on a motorbike with one clad in a Grab delivery uniform while his passenger carried the green insulated Grab delivery bag. Officers stopped and searched the two after suspecting the men were acting suspiciously. Conducting a search, officers…
