The operation, part of the ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’ campaign, was carried out at 1:30am on Tuesday (Sept 2), reported the Kathu District Office.
Deputy District Chief Jirawat Namatra, along with fellow deputy chief Anurak Poolsak and members of the Kathu District Office attachment of Volunteer Defence Corps (OrSor) security personnel, led the field operation.
The suspect, identified only as ‘Mr A’, was arrested in an unregistered building on Phisit Korani Rd. Officers seized 15 methamphetamine tablets (ya bah) and drug-use paraphernalia from the scene.
He was charged with possession and use of a Category 1 narcotic and handed over to investigators at Patong Police Station for legal proceedings.
Kathu officials stressed that the crackdown forms part of ongoing efforts to build a drug-free community in Kathu District and across Phuket.
Major drug arrests in Phuket have tapered off since the ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’ nationwide campaign kicked off mid-July.
The latest major arrests came early last month when two suspected drug traffickers were arrested and 10,000 ya bah pills seized in a major operation in Kathu.
Thalang Police that same week arrested three suspected drug traffickers and seized more than 6,000 ya bah pills and over 300g of crystal meth (ya ice) in a coordinated operation targeting a local drug network.
Those arrests followed an announcement by Phuket Governor Sopon Suwannarat and Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum on Aug 1 that the campaign was entering ‘Phase 2’.
The announcement explained the three phases as:
* Phase 1 (late July): Police conducted intensive searches and arrests targeting small- and medium-scale drug dealers and users, with support from local officials. Operations included cordons, raids and asset seizures.
* Phase 2 (August): Officers are using intelligence gathered during Phase 1 to expand investigations and arrests. Drug users are being directed into treatment programmes.
* Phase 3 (September): The final stage will focus on evaluating the results of the campaign and declaring ‘white communities’ – areas free of drug activity.
At the Aug 1 event, results from the first phase of the operation, from July 18-31, were reported.
Over the two-week period, authorities dismantled 58 drug networks, raided 121 target locations and arrested 138 suspects for drug-related offenses
Seized items included 6,524 ya bah pills, 300g of crystal meth (ya ice), 10g of ketamine, 6g of heroin, five ecstasy pills, one firearm and drug-related assets worth B1.17 million.