5 European Arrested On Drug Charges

[sriracha john]

but i hope, they can stay in LOS for the next 25 years without any visa

the thai-government has now enough money to give them food&drinks everyday in the monkeyhouse......

As far as I can tell from the reports, they've not been charged with ANY crimes in Thailand.

This is purely an extradition case and apparently a high priority one as the police General said above. It'd be surprising if they are here 25 days.... and then they'll be Belgium's taxpayers responsibility.

Edited October 18, 2007 by sriracha john

[LaoPo]

"125 kilograms of heroin, 200 kilograms of cocaine and 350 tons of marijuana, a Thai police spokesman said.

The street value of the seized drugs was 5 million baht ($150,000), he added"

I think they must have this figure wrong

That's for sure, since that's alot of dope!

350 tons of smoke ,they will be there a long time moving and weighing that then .

According to Reuters article, that was done almost a year ago:

were seized in Belgium in November last year

and indeed, would be worth more than 5 million baht and that's where the 5 billion baht figure comes from.

Nothing has been mentioned in any article about the confiscation of drugs or money in their arrest today on Samui.

The latest article from DPA news reports:

"The Belgian authorities alerted us so we were able to seize the suspects before they got nervous and fled again. They will be extradited to Belgium as quickly as possible," Lieutenant General Vuth Liptapallop said.

Here's a photo of the Belgian/Dutch "high society" Samui residents:

Thai police hold a news conference on the southern Thai island of Samui on October 18, 2007 attended by two Belgian and two Dutch fugitives alleged to be part of a major drug trafficking ring in Belgium. The suspects (L-R) were identified by the Thai police as Belgians Kelly Cautereels, 25, Koen Vanstaay, 29, Dutchmen Paulus Meyer, 44, and Ronald Koornwinder, 55. Three Belgian and two Dutch fugitives alleged to be part of a major drug trafficking ring in Belgium were arrested on the southern Thai island of Samui on Thursday after tip-offs from Belgian officials, Thai police said.

REUTERS

*EDIT* Respectfully request a Moderator to modify the thread title to reflect that it was not 4 Belgian Nationals arrested. Thank you. A possible suggested thread title might be the Associated Press article's headline reporting on the incident:

http://www.chinapost.com.tw/headlines/2007...Thai-police.htm

Note

As far as I can see, the visible face/person on the Left is a girl and according to the description should be Kelly Cautereels, 25. The rest are men (with one not there or visible; the one from the hospital).

But, just a minor detail of course, although it seems odd that the link in the China Post speaks of 4 European men whilst the name 'Kelly' is a girl's name...

LaoPo

[sriracha john]

In the latest, the Post still hasn't picked up on the fifth suspect, the Belgian arrested in the hospital... but otherwise, more details, including their Great Escape attempt, the missing gang leader, the first mention of local seizures during the arrest, and the impact of the burgeoning international criminal gangs on Samui.....

'Most-wanted' Belgium drugs gang captured

About 50 police, including nine from Belgium, raided four houses in a five-rai compound of tambon Boh Pud early yesterday, said Pol Maj-Gen Wut. As police waited for maids to lock up fierce guard dogs, the suspects scaled the backyard fence and tried to flee into the mountain, only to meet waiting policemen. Police could not find the leader identified as Lota Gariel, a Belgian who runs a kick-boxing establishment. Police seized four cars and bank passbooks with deposits totalling more than 100 million baht. A source in the local tourism business said Koh Samui has become a bustling mafia hub. Earlier this year, four members of the Bandidos motorcycle gang and four Thai accomplices were arrested. In March, John Fowler, 57, was arrested for masterminding the biggest robbery in British criminal history had bought an expensive house on Koh Samui.

Continued here:

http://www.bangkokpost.com/News/19Oct2007_news08.php

========================================================================

Related threads on the topics raised in the article:

100 Police Officers Raid Koh Samui

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...c=76140&hl=

and

Samui Loses One Of Its Prestigious Residents

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...c=63436&hl=

[taxexile]

Law enforcement officers were paid to turn a blind eye.

i wonder if they will face any charges and if their assets will be frozen too , or will they just be left to carry on as normal.

[LaoPo]

" A source in the local tourism business said Koh Samui has become a bustling mafia hub, with gangsters in Pattaya expanding their presence to the resort island.

<snip>

The island, he said, is now mainly controlled by three gangs from Germany, Britain and Scandinavia. The German gang runs the restaurant business, while the other two focus on real estate."

Anybody any idea ?

Since the Police is present in large numbers now, they might as well 'sweep-clean' the rest......Will bring clean air to the island

LaoPo

[ParadiseLost]

Now I know why the French have invaded KP - no pickings on KS anymore!

[Samuian]

..*EDIT* Respectfully request a Moderator to modify the thread title to reflect that it was not 4 Belgian Nationals arrested. Thank you. A possible suggested thread title might be the Associated Press article's headline reporting on the incident:

Thai police arrest four Europeans sought by Belgium as major drug traffickers

The Title was the Original Title of the Breaking News in Thailand.

I am not quite why the title should be modified, as time proceeded, the record has been set straight by the participants of this forum, now we all know.

May be some are even able to clear the accused of their wrongdoings....

[sriracha john]

Thread titles of news events get modified all the time to reflect increased accuracy as developments occur.

Don't take it personally.

[Samuian]

The island, he said, is now mainly controlled by three gangs from Germany, Britain and Scandinavia. The German gang runs the restaurant business, while the other two focus on real estate."[/i]

Anybody any idea ?

LaoPo

Source?

Think this statement is far fetched, at worst stained with envy! How about Swiss, Austrians, Italians, French?

How a statement like: "99% of Thai Restaurants in the World are run by a Thai Scam..."...would go down, it just wouldn't be fair nor realistic, would it?!

[george]

This topic continues here:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=149018