The raids, conducted from Aug 14-17 under the campaign ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’, were led by the senior district officials, supported by security personnel from the Volunteer Defense Corps (OrSor).
The largest operation was carried out in Cherng Talay, where four Thai men were arrested following a tip-off about a drug network.
Among those detained were a 27-year-old man (‘Beer’) and a 21-year-old man (‘Beach’) – arrested with 10.58 grammes of crystal meth, two motorbikes and two phones. They face charges of possession and distribution of Category 1 narcotics.
Officers also arrested a 27-year-old man (‘Jack’), caught with 41.49g of crystal meth and a phone. He was charged with intent to distribute.
The fourth arrest was of a 24-year-old man (‘Bas’) – arrested with 1.34g of crystal meth, six meth pills, a motorcycle and a phone. He faces charges of possession and use.
In total, the operation seized 53.41g of crystal meth and six ya bah pills. The arrests were made outside a convenience store, at a rental house and at a hotel in Thalang. All suspects were taken to Cherng Talay Police Station.
A separate raid in Soi King Kaew 1/1, Ratsada, on Saturday (Aug 16) led to the arrest of a 25-year-old man (‘Kod’), found with 10.06g of crystal meth and two phones. He was charged with possession and distribution.
Five other individuals identified as drug users voluntarily entered treatment and were transferred to Vachira Phuket Hospital.
District officials, defense volunteers and Patong Police on Friday (Aug 15) carried out random drug tests on 55 employees at the Sugar nightclub on Soi Bangla. No positive results were found.
The official reports of the arrests marked that Governor Sophon had passed down the national deadline of ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’ directive, which sets a three-month target for villages with drug problems to implement local prevention mechanisms and be declared drug-free.
“These crackdowns send a clear message that Phuket will not tolerate drug networks,” Gov Sopon said. “Our goal is to ensure safe, drug-free communities across the island.”