The intensified campaign in Phuket, ordered by Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat and Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, aims to make every village on the island drug-free within three months. The effort brings together police, administrative officers and defence volunteers across all districts.
In Phuket Town, officers from Phuket City Police raided the Saphan Ruam Phoonphon Community on July 24. Plakorn, 40, also known as ‘Korn’, was arrested at a rented room on Sri Suthat Rd.
Police seized 19.55 grammes of crystal meth, 80 ya bah pills, a mobile phone and a red Honda Sonic motorbike. All assets, estimated at B80,000, were seized under anti-money laundering laws. ‘Korn’ now faces charges of drug possession and trafficking, and was remanded for further legal proceedings.
At 1:20am on July 25, the Phuket Provincial Administration Special Operations Unit conducted a sting operation in Koh Sirey, leading to the arrest of a 37-year-old man for selling crystal meth to local youths.
Officers seized 1.01g of ya ice, B400 in marked notes, a phone, motorbike, and drug paraphernalia. The suspect was charged with possession, sale and use of Category 1 drugs.
Later that same day, officials at a checkpoint on Soi Patak 18, Karon, arrested a man found with 8.18g of ya ice. He was charged with possession for sale and drug use, and taken to Karon Police Station.
In Kathu District, officers tested 24 Thai and foreign workers at a construction camp in Moo 1, Kamala. One tested positive for drug use and was referred for treatment. Officials said they would expand investigations under the ‘1 user = 1 dealer’ approach.
A separate raid in the Khao Noi community in Tambon Kathu uncovered five ya bah pills during a follow-up investigation. A search found two more ya bah pills. One suspect, a Thai male, was arrested and taken to Kathu Police Station.
Officials also raided a suspected drug den in a four-storey building in Baan Mon, Patong. Eight people were found using the premises as a gathering place for drug use. Drug paraphernalia was seized and all eight tested positive. They were referred for rehabilitation. Investigations are being expanded to trace suppliers.
In Thalang District, two arrests were made in separate operations last Friday.
At a checkpoint in Ban Mak Prok, Mai Khao, one man was found with two ya bah pills and tested positive. He was also charged with driving under the influence of meth.
In another raid, a woman was arrested at a rented room in Moo 5, Srisoonthorn, with 4.43g of ya ice, drug paraphernalia, plastic bags and a mobile phone. The woman faces charges of possession with intent to sell and drug use.
Police and provincial officials say operations will continue across Phuket with full cooperation from district offices, police stations, local leaders, and defence volunteers as they push to eradicate drugs from all communities.
Governor Sophon last Friday announced that law enforcement officials in Phuket had arrested 43 people in coordinated drug raids carried out at 26 locations across the island from July 22 to 25 as part of the ongoing ‘No Drugs, No Dealers’ campaign.
Of those arrested, 24 face serious drug charges, while 19 were taken into custody for drug use. Officers seized 1,873 methamphetamine pills, 43.64 grams of crystal meth (ya ice), 3 grams of ketamine, and 5 ecstasy pills. Authorities also confiscated seven assets with a combined estimated value of B123,000.
Governor Sophon carried on to point out that from Oct 1, 2023, to July 21, 2025, 2,262 drug cases were closed, resulting in the arrest of 2,379 suspects. Of those, 1,401 people were charged with serious drug offences, while 978 were arrested for drug use.
Seizures over the same period included 253,876 methamphetamine pills, 28.9kg of crystal meth, 1.49kg of cocaine, 4kg of ketamine and 28,268 ecstasy pills. In addition, officers confiscated 456 items of property valued at more than B42 million, and dismantled 19 major drug networks operating in Phuket.
Governor Sophon said the campaign’s success depends on cooperation between police, civil officials, health workers, and the public. He stressed that enforcement alone is not enough, and that prevention, rehabilitation, and community development are also key to solving the province’s drug problems.
Additional reporting by Eakkapop Thongtub