Koh Pha Ngan Police Criticised for Ignoring Foreign Cannabis Thieves

[webfact]

Photo via Facebook/ Pattaya One News

 

A frustrated cannabis shop owner on Koh Pha Ngan has accused local police of ignoring a theft involving two foreign customers. Jariya Kamonrat, who owns Monkey’s Dispensary on the island, took to social media to seek assistance after allegedly receiving insufficient support from the police.

 

The incident, which occurred on 26th February, was captured on CCTV cameras. The footage shows two foreigners, both estimated to be around 25 years old, entering the store. After selecting and paying for cannabis products, the pair left. However, Jariya later noticed that a jar of cannabis flowers, valued at over 6,000 baht, was missing.

 

Upon reviewing the footage, it became evident that one of the men, wearing a white shirt, had discreetly pocketed the jar while Jariya was distracted at the counter. His accomplice, dressed in blue, had cleverly engaged her in conversation during the act.

 

Jariya promptly reported the theft to the Koh Pha Ngan Police Station, providing them with the crucial CCTV evidence. However, her recent follow-up with the police left her disappointed. Despite the evidence at hand, officers reportedly responded dismissively, with one officer allegedly saying, “Where do you want us to arrest the suspects? You don’t even have their names.”

Disheartened by the response, Jariya has resolved to take matters into her own hands. She has reached out to the local community through a Facebook group, requesting any information about the two individuals. Jariya has even offered a reward for tips leading to their identification and arrest.

 

The incident has sparked wider discussions about the police's response to such crimes involving tourists. This is not the first cannabis-related theft to hit headlines in Thailand.

 

In another incident, an Irish national was apprehended after breaking into a cannabis shop in Pattaya and consuming products until he fell unconscious. Additionally, two foreign suspects remain at large following a similar theft from a cannabis shop in Krabi earlier in the year.

 

These events have heightened concerns among local shop owners about security and the enforcement of laws pertaining to cannabis, especially as Thailand's cannabis market continues to attract both tourists and entrepreneurs.

 

As Jariya continues her search for justice, her story highlights the challenges that local businesses may face in seeking accountability for crimes involving foreign nationals, reported The Thaiger.

 

-- 2025-03-04

 

 

[JoePai]

No money to get them off their ar$es

[ronster]

So immigration police can't recognise them from doing report when they arrived where they are staying 🙄

[CFCol]

14 minutes ago, ronster said:

So immigration police can't recognise them from doing report when they arrived where they are staying 🙄

Without names???

[hotchilli]

Saw this a while back in another post... if they haven't got them by now they've gone

[PomPolo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A frustrated cannabis shop owner

Only in Thailand 🤣

[PomPolo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Monkey’s Dispensary on the island

Probably needs to change the name of his shop also to prevent future thefts!

[1happykamper]

Lazy cops. Replace them 

[PomPolo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

His accomplice, dressed in blue, had cleverly engaged her in conversation during the act

Doesn't look much like an accomplice from that photo. looks stoned though 

[PomPolo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Disheartened by the response, Jariya has resolved to take matters into her own hands

Good luck with that one, I doubt there will be much good advice coming from AN on this particular cannabis theft issue 😁

[CLW]

There's no way one little jar of cannabis is worth those quoted 6,000 THB from the shop owner. Maybe more likely 500 THB. That's why the cops don't investigate. Wouldn't be different in any other country. Damage to small, case closed 

[kuzmabruk]

Thai people have an aversion to using technology as that would improve their ability to do their jobs and then their bosses might expect more performance and that would make them have to actually perform a job.   All these big words are scary for workers in Thailand

[Watawattana]

Can't be too much hassle for the cops to start a local Facebook page for their station and to post appeals thereon?  Even in crazy Britain the cops are allowed to do that!

[malibukid]

cops here are worthless

[sambum]

1 hour ago, ronster said:

So immigration police can't recognise them from doing report when they arrived where they are staying 🙄

See the post re "money" and a***s!

[Andycoops]

The hazy lazy BiB, couldn't enforce a smile on their miserable gobs let alone solve a crime, truly disgusting and disgraceful treatment of a citizen with the necessary evidence.

[black tabby12345]

2 hours ago, ronster said:

So immigration police can't recognise them from doing report when they arrived where they are staying 🙄

 

Since they don't need to declare their names, nationalities, passport numbers, and their place of stay, to enter weed shop, unlike bike rental cases...

[trainman34014]

My bet would be that the Pharmacy Owner is not in the 'Tea Club' and has no pick-up box on the wall that the BIB visit monthly .    No Money= Zero Police Service !

[cookie1974]

The legalisation of cannabis has certainly attracted some great quality tourists from the look of it, well done Thailand

[Dogmatix]

The plod on the islands used to make a boat load of cash from importing and dealing in ganja.  Busting their backpacker customers, shaking them down and reselling the dope.  Legalisation deprived them of a hugely lucrative line.  The new legit dealers who have taken away their business can't really expect the plod to get upset, if foreigners nick one jar of weed. 

[Kenny Boy]

Not real Police in Thailand.

5 ft keystone cops 

[Iron Tongue]

15 hours ago, malibukid said:

cops here are worthless

Nonsense!

The police are worth every baht you are willing to pay them.

 

Unfortunately, this is true with most non-Western countries where the police routinely expect to be paid by a victim in order to pursue an investigation. This isn't as much corruption as it is that most countries don't pay their police a living wage.  India and Mexico fall into this category as well.

Unless they personally eyewitness a crime being committed, the police aren't motivated to respond.

 

[DTL2014]

i think you would need to go via tourist police or better is Immigration- because immigration will have facial recognition?? from the photos taken at the border .....maybe when they try to leave the country you can get them nabbed at the airport. the amount you aim to collect is approx 8 x the value of the items so about 30k ...plus whatever you have to pay Immigration to catch him ....Lastly the jars should be out of reach...