The arrest took place at about 2am on Muang Chao Fa Road in Kathu. Officers from Chalong Police Station, supported by patrol teams from the Chalong Municipality, stopped the man during a routine traffic inspection.
The suspect, named by police as ’Nigrian Basil Odinaka’, 27, was found carrying 73.31g of cocaine. He was immediately taken into custody.
Odinaka has been charged with possession of a Category 2 narcotic (cocaine) without a permit. He has been handed over to investigators for further legal proceedings, Chalong Police confirmed.
In other arrests by Chalong Police, officers arrested three people and seized more than 1,000 methamphetamine pills (ya bah) and a handgun as part of an ongoing crackdown on drug distribution in the Rawai area.
The arrests were announced yesterday (Aug 1) as part of the ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’ operation, conducted under the Ministry of Interior’s directive to build drug-free communities.
Two women ‒ named by police as ‘Ms Tiw’, 64, and ‘Ms Tiya’, 74 – were arrested separately in front of an unnumbered house along Soi Mukdee in Moo 2, Rawai. Tiw was found with 503 ya bah pills, while Tiya was caught with 163 pills. Both were charged with distributing a Category 1 narcotic without a permit.
A third suspect, named as ‘Mr Patiphan’, 30, was arrested at a residence condominium in Moo 7, Rawai. He was charged with illegal possession of a firearm and ammunition, as well as methamphetamine use. Police seized a Zoraki M 906 handgun and two rounds of ammunition.
Following his arrest, officers recovered 341 ya bah pills (339 orange and two green) hidden along a roadside at the sea gypsy village in Rawai.
In total, police seized 1,007 ya bah pills during the operation.
Chalong Police have reminded the public that drug use and distribution not only endangers individuals, but also harms families and the community at large. “Don’t harm your children by getting involved with drugs,” a statement from the station read. “For their future, the police will not tolerate this.”
All suspects and seized items have been handed over to investigators for further legal action.