The arrest took place on Wednesday (July 2), at around 6:30pm. The operation was carried out by the Phuket Provincial Office special operations team, led by Phuket Provincial Defense Officer Akkara Suwatthikul.
Also present to bolster the local officials’ presence were 10 security personnel from the Volunteer Defense Corps (OrSor).
Officials had received complaints that the grocery store owner, previously involved in a drug-related case and currently out on bail, was continuing to sell methamphetamine openly and without fear of legal consequences.
An undercover officer was deployed to conduct a sting operation, which led to the arrest of one male suspect, said an official report of the raid, which did not name the suspect arrested.
The man has been charged with the distribution of Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine) with intent to sell, and possession of severe Category 1 narcotics without permission, the report confirmed.
Seized as evidence in the raid were 282 ya bah pills (including 25 pills obtained during the sting operation) and B560 in cash, the report said.
The suspect was taken to Thalang Police Station for legal processing. The officers confirmed that further investigations are underway to dismantle the wider drug network operating in the area.