Briton Arrested For Alleged Major Drug Dealing

[nonthaburial]

My first thought on this and similar cases is: Does he have a work permit?

I always wonder how these people manage to stay, although having a lot of money probably makes it easier.

Too bad, and I know a school that is looking for a good chemistry teacher!

UK Sun newspaper claims that he ran a Pattaya travel agency as a cover !!!!

[roamer]

I've noticed quotes on here about this guy being "extremely clever" to be able to do this. Nah, these days with the wealth of information available on the internet its more like painting by numbers.

[sonnyJ]

The "factory" to produce those drugs would not be in any sane person's house. Crystal meth and most other processed drugs like Ecstasy are very dangerous to produce in large quantities, due to the ether and other highly inflammable and explosive fumes produced... No way is this a one man operation.

Yes, it can be very dangerous to manufacture these chemicals in home laboratories.

What I'd like to know is what was he producing exactly, just methamphetamines or MDA, MDMA strains which are know as ecstasy. The latter requires very sophisticated equipment and a lot more than knowledge of high school chemistry. And is not generally produced in Asia.

I would guess no.1, he was producing methamphetamines not ecstasy.

6000 pills? come on, and there was mentioned other substances to produce the pills but no quantities.

[meom]

Two years of chemistry at college and Google will set you free. So for all your would be chemists here you go

For those interested in the techniques involved in synthesizing MDMA, a good book for self- learning is the following:

Zubrick, James W. "The Organic Chem Lab Survival Manual:

A Students Guide to Techniques." ISBN #0471575046.

Wiley John&Sons Inc. 3rd ed.

It is recommended that this book should be supplemented with at least one more of the 'dry' and technical O-Chem lab manuals available at any college bookstore. It is not recommend that the information from these books or herein this file be used to synthesize MDMA for the previously stated reasons. Knowledge, however, is not (yet) illegal.

Precursors:

The following chemicals are some of the more important ones in the synthesis of MDMA and related chemicals:

• safrole: 3,4-methylenedioxyallylbenzene, 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-2-propene

• isosafrole: 3,4-methylenedioxypropenylbenzene, 1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-propene

• MDP-2-P: 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-propanone, 3,4-methylenedioxyphenylacetone, 3,4-methylenedioxybenzyl methyl ketone, piperonylacetone

• piperonal: 3,4-methylenedioxybenzaldehyde, heliotropin

• beta-nitroisosafrole: 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-nitropropene

Safrole, isosafrole, MDP-2-P, piperonal and beta-nitroisosafrole are the most commonly found precursors to MDMA in clandestine labs.

Synthetic Routes:

For an overview of MDMA synthetic routes it is suggested that the readers familiarize themselves very thoroughly with the following reference:

Dal Cason-TA. "An Evaluation of the Potential for Clandestine

Manufacture of 3,4-Methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) Analogs

and Homologs." Journal of Forensic Sciences.

Vol 35(3):675-697. May 1990.

The most common synthetic routes for production of MDA, MDMA, MDE (MDEA), and MDOH are from the precursor MDP-2-P. To get MDP-2-P first a natural source of safrole is acquired. Safrole can be extracted from sassafras oil, nutmeg oil, or several other sources which have been abundantly documented in _Chemical Abstracts_ over the years. The safrole is then easily isomerized into isosafrole when heated with NaOH or KOH. The isosafrole is then oxidized into MDP-2-P. This latter procedure has been most clearly presented in _Phenethylamines I Have Known and Loved_ by Alexander Shulgin under synthesis #109 (MDMA). The synthesis of MDP-2-P from isosafrole will require the use of a vacuum pump to evaporate the solvent from the final product in vacuo. An aspirator will not, unfortunately, be sufficient.

Once the MDP-2-P is synthesized there are several synthetic routes which can be taken:

1. Sodium Cyanoborohydride

2. Aluminum Amalgam

3. Sodium Borohydride

4. Raney Nickel Catalysis

5. Leukart Reaction via N-formyl-MDA

6. Leukart Reaction via N-methyl-N-formyl-MDA

The sodium cyanoborohydride method is probably the one most attractive to clandestine chemists. From the Dal Cason reference:

"It requires no knowledge of chemistry, has a wide

applicability, offers little chance of failure, produces

good yields, does not require expensive chemical apparatus

or glassware, and uses currently available (and easily

synthesized) precursors"

The aluminum amalgam synthesis is often used but has a slightly higher risk of failure and is not as versatile. The Raney Ni synthesis is more dangerous and requires special equipment to be done right (although this scheme is used in a significant number of clandestine labs). The sodium borohydride requires harsher conditions for the chemicals (ie. reflux) than sodium cyanoborohydride or aluminum amalgam and produces lower yields. The Leukart reaction is 2-step with lower yields and requires chemical apparatus.

There are also two synthetic methods which proceed directly from safrole rather than through isosafrole. The first is the Ritter reaction which goes through the intermediate N-acetyl-MDA. The Ritter reaction is time-consuming, requires a degree of laboratory skill and produces poor yields. The other method uses HBr to produce 3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl-2-bromopropane which is then converted into MDA or MDMA. This scheme produces poor yields, and Dal Cason referenced the australian journal _ANALOG_ where a hazard had been documented. It is, however, attractive for its sheer simplicity. It requires no specialized chem equipment or reagents at all.

Beta-nitroisosafrole is a less used precursor, but there is a large literature on the synthesis and reduction of nitro alkenes. This synthetic route isn't as popular due to the easier availability of precursors for MDP-2-P, and it also results in MDA which must then be further processed to give MDMA or any other N-alkyl homolog of MDA. There are numerous ways to convert beta-nitroisosafrole to MDA: LiAlH4, AlH3, electrolytic, Na(Hg), BH3 - THF / NaBH4, Raney Ni catalyst, Pd / BaSO4 catalyst, Zn (Hg). Beta-nitroisosafrole, when used, is commonly synthesized from piperonal. Beta-nitroisosafrole can also be used as a precursor for MDP-2-P, but this is not commonly done.

There are other synthetic routes, such as the use of substituted 3,4-methylenedioxycinnamic acid or the construction of alkyenedioxy bridges from dihydroxy compounds. These, however, are typically not used for a variety of reasons (difficulty, multiple-step, special equipment, etc). It is also possible to synthesize N-alkyl derivatives of MDA from MDA (e.g. synthesizing MDMA from MDA) but this is not commonly done in clandestine labs.

[sonnyJ]

I still stand on my assumption. Would be very surprised if he had the equipment for MDA production.

[RAZZELL]

Seriously. Stepping on the local mafias toes by trying to dump such a sizeable load of drugs on their market can only have one of a couple of outcomes... death by mafia, or arrest (possible death) by govt.

Any money he's out "on bail" in a couple of weeks...

Remember the Northern guy who stabbed his girlfriend to death? He got "bail" and is now back in blighty.

Money talks....and the villains walk...

RAZZ

The guy who got jealous as she wastalking to guy's in the beer bar he bought her?

I heard he was out and away

i thought he was a cockney?

This bloke, Dennis Gill.

http://archive.thenorthernecho.co.uk/2006/11/2/232287.html

Halfway down:

http://www.pattayamail.com/676/news.shtml

RAZZ

Edited November 2, 2007 by RAZZELL

[kopite]

My first thought on this and similar cases is: Does he have a work permit?

I always wonder how these people manage to stay, although having a lot of money probably makes it easier.

Too bad, and I know a school that is looking for a good chemistry teacher!

UK Sun newspaper claims that he ran a Pattaya travel agency as a cover !!!!

scum of earth and have no place in the world reporting on any event any in the world. pm if you think im wrong.

dont buy the sun

[RAZZELL]

dont buy the sun

Fan of Heather's are we?

JOKING...I'm sure you can't be a scouser without a sense of humour...

RAZZ

[roamer]

I still stand on my assumption. Would be very surprised if he had the equipment for MDA production.

Your correct. Attempting to obtain any of the precursors in Asia would be fraught with difficulty and considerable expense, not to mention the fact that most of them are on "watched" lists.

[sriracha john]

Seriously. Stepping on the local mafias toes by trying to dump such a sizeable load of drugs on their market can only have one of a couple of outcomes... death by mafia, or arrest (possible death) by govt.

Any money he's out "on bail" in a couple of weeks...

Remember the Northern guy who stabbed his girlfriend to death? He got "bail" and is now back in blighty.

Money talks....and the villains walk...

The guy who got jealous as she wastalking to guy's in the beer bar he bought her?

I heard he was out and away

i thought he was a cockney?

This bloke, Dennis Gill.

Halfway down:

Covered in Thaivisa thread:

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/index.php?sh...c=76504&hl=

Englishman Charged With Murder Of Thai Girlfriend

Edited November 3, 2007 by sriracha john

[sriracha john]

British drugs kingpin seized at Thai mansion while packing pills for Halloween party

A Briton who ran a world-wide drugs syndicate from his mansion home in Thailand was arrested as he was packing drugs for a 'high society' Halloween party.

Marcus James, 48, from Lewisham, South London, was seized along with his common-law Thai wife Linrat Chalwatworachot, 36, at his £1 million mansion in the resort of Pattaya, 100 miles east of Bangkok.

Police seized drugs, drug making equipment, and all his assets worth in excess of £10 million. It included stashes of gold and cash.

Using sniffer dogs Thai police found Ecstasy and methamphetamines hidden in upstairs and downstairs toilets, in an office desk and a safe. They also found the materials for making 'Ice'.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Adisorn Nongsee said James admitted all as he had been caught red handed. "He was packing drugs for a Halloween party."

"His cover was that he was running a travel company, but his real business was drugs.

"He admitted to our investigators that he was making the drugs and sending them to England and Europe where they were used at 'high society' parties. He was also supplying high society parties in Bangkok and Pattaya.

"He had become rich from his business and been able to buy several cars and a 1903 Harley Davidson motorcycle."

Police said that although his house in Jomtien Palace Village contained most of the equipment for making drugs they believed the actually factory was elsewhere and they were still looking for it and other members of the gang.

They have yet to weigh all the drugs and formal charges will be made later, but they so far had counted over 6000 Ecstasy and methamphetamine tablets.

Marcus James faces the death sentence in Thailand, but all death sentences given to westerners have been reduced to life imprisonment.

- Daily Mail (UK)

Edited November 3, 2007 by sriracha john

[sonnyJ]

How come they found meth and ecstasy tablets and something to make ice when all in the picture is green tablets looking like meth? I wont bother to go back to that pic counting them.

[Hawkinschris]

Marcus James faces the death sentence in Thailand, but all death sentences given to westerners have been reduced to life imprisonment.

- Daily Mail (UK)

I think The Death Sentence is a bit harsh, when these Child Sex Offenders only get 15 years.....!!

[suiging]

You are making the assumption that he wasn't the Donkey. The location of the press may reveal a bigger fish...........

Ooooops, sorry replying to the chap who thought he was bright.

Edited November 4, 2007 by suiging

[Stephen Cleary]

Marcus James faces the death sentence in Thailand, but all death sentences given to westerners have been reduced to life imprisonment.

- Daily Mail (UK)

I think The Death Sentence is a bit harsh, when these Child Sex Offenders only get 15 years.....!!

I think the death sentence is a bit harsh too, when some former politician can order the killings of 2,500 junkies, shift 1 billion pound out of the country in 96 suitcases, sell off the country's major assets and still manage to go scot free!

[YangYaiEric]

Police arrested Briton James Marcus, 50, and his girlfriend, Linrat Chalawatworachote, 36, for allegedly being major drug dealers in Pattaya on Wednesday. Confiscated from their house were 6,000 ectasy pills and precursor chemicals.

The Nation

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

Can only presume a more complete report is forthcoming.

Another nail in the coffin for the Expat community! And we wonder why the Thai Immigration are making it harder for us to stay in Thailand

[mrmarkBKK]

So you now need a work permit to sell drugs??? LOL

I guess we won't be seeing them at Marine 1 & 2 any more...

My first thought on this and similar cases is: Does he have a work permit?

I always wonder how these people manage to stay, although having a lot of money probably makes it easier.

Too bad, and I know a school that is looking for a good chemistry teacher!

[distortedlink]

Reading the report, it quotes that the drug dealer was running a travel agent's as cover for his drug deals. Yet a travel/tour agency falls under the category as a prohibited profession for farangs.

I being from England, an honest abide by the law legal person, can say that this type of person is now common place in Britain He can be your next door neighbour, in the workplace or someone you may have the unfortunate experience of meeting in a day to day business. It was one of my main reasons for getting myself and family out of the UK. The town that I lived, was becoming the drug capital of Middlesex.

It seems Pattaya has become a haven for these dangerous criminals, why, because it is easy for them to get in and out of Thailand, the authorities turn to blind eye to farangs that are running prohibited by law businesses and there are plenty of Thais willing to associate with and participate in these farangs illegal activities.

Italy has similar problems with some East European gangs and recently has taken measures to clamp down on these gangsters.

Please let the Thai government take realistic action against this scum now, before they get too strong a hold on the economy of Thailand and influences on business here.

Edited November 4, 2007 by distortedlink

[joskydive]

Dont you think she looks a bit like an Issan version of Michael jackson? "whos bad! da da da daa daa!"

Not at all, she too dark skinned to compared to the nutty one. Jay

Well, 'she' looks like a 'he' to me but neither of them look like they are very worried atall.

[the gent]

The presumption that criminal activities by a marginal minority of falang has an impact upon the immigration policy of the Thai is typical of the emotional led response so prevalent in these threads.

The importation, production and distribution of illicit drugs is essentially a Thai industry that operates within a society where the boundaries between the forces of law and order and commerce are so blurred as to be almost meaningless in the context of the western notion of any rule of law.

So why do the usual suspects continue to witter on about the actions of the odd falang miscreant reflecting badly upon the " falang community " ? Perhaps it's just plain stupidity or may be the opportunity to get on that tired old nag of a hobby horse to vent their self righteousness is just too irresistible ?

Hang 'em high chaps and perhaps you will get that elusive visa yet !

[grantbkk]

I still stand on my assumption. Would be very surprised if he had the equipment for MDA production.

Your correct. Attempting to obtain any of the precursors in Asia would be fraught with difficulty and considerable expense, not to mention the fact that most of them are on "watched" lists.

[somtaamgaiyang]

Dont you think she looks a bit like an Issan version of Michael jackson? "whos bad! da da da daa daa!"

So that is where is he is hiding out!

[thomo]

What a muppet.

Make your money. Then get out.

I've no respect for these idiots who get involved in the drug business in countries with such severe penalties.

Or those who do it, make their money and don't get out.

Base yourself in Holland or Aussie, where you'll make more money and not risk the BKK Hilton. Make your money, then come here to live.

A 50 yr old Aussie bloke just got done in Bali with a load of pot... just months after 9 young Aussies were sentenced to life, then sentenced to Death after they appealed their life sentence.

If you're that dumb you deserve to spend the rest of your life locked in a shit covered cell.

Edited November 5, 2007 by thomo

[meom]

Reading the report, it quotes that the drug dealer was running a travel agent's as cover for his drug deals. Yet a travel/tour agency falls under the category as a prohibited profession for farangs.

Since some of the precursors are widely used in the perfume industry it might have been smarter had he run a perfumery

[papaya9]

Look at the jaw on his "girl"friend...

[papaya9]

Its funny that many say this guy is a scumbag. What are the people called who consume the same drugs that he sold? His type wouldn't be around without the other.

[chicowoodduck]

Drugs ought to be compulsory for some.

I think those two will be needing more than drugs for all the sh*t they are in!

[joskydive]

Its funny that many say this guy is a scumbag. What are the people called who consume the same drugs that he sold? His type wouldn't be around without the other.

addicts

[YangYaiEric]

Look at the jaw on his "girl"friend...

That was my first reaction on seeing her face too! She looks VERY masculine IMHO .

Does the work Khatoey ring a bell here?

[Acquiesce]

Look at the jaw on his "girl"friend...

That was my first reaction on seeing her face too! She looks VERY masculine IMHO .

Does the work Khatoey ring a bell here?

Like in papaya9's avatar?