Police In Bangkok Arrest 707 People Over Drug Charges

[webfact]

Police arrest 707 people over drug charges

The Nation

The Bangkok police bureau's recent campaign against drug trafficking led to raids on nine communities, which resulted in the arrest of 707 suspects, chief Pol LtGeneral Winai Thongsong told the press yesterday.

The suspects included 244 known traffickers, 157 others suspected to be selling narcotics and 300 drug abusers, while 12 people were arrested for different charges, he said. Police also confiscated 16,982 ya ba tablets, 384 grams of crystal meth, 50 packages of marijuana, six pistols and 29 bullets, he added.

Winai also mentioned the arrest of Thepasit Thomyapariwat, 36, a temporary worker at Rajvithi Hospital, who was nabbed during a sting operation. Police found that Thepasit had been with the hospital for 14 years and taking drugs for three years. Though he got out of drug rehab just three weeks ago, he had started using again and selling ya ba to hospital staff and teenagers. Thepasit said he bought the drug from a friend in the Suthisarn area at Bt210 per tablet and then sold it at Bt240 per tablet.

Insisting that he was not related to singer Ronnachai "Ord Kiribun" Thomyapariwat, Thepasit said he earned Bt6,000 per month, but his mother owed money to loan sharks and he sold ya ba to pay off the loans.

In another case, Makkasan police arrested taxi driver Boonchuay Liabsaeng, 38, on Rama 9 Road on Thursday night with 170 ya ba tablets in his possession.

He confessed that he made drug deals on the phone before customers wired him the money and he delivered the drugs. He said he was forced to deal in drugs because the recent floods had forced him to fall behind in his car payments.

In yet another case, Huai Khwang police arrested Arun Phutthaisong, 20, for having 880 ya ba tablets and two grams of crystal meth in his possession. Police also confiscated the Bt200,000 they found on the suspect's person, Winai added.

In related news, Alongkorn Rermprachathipathai, 25, and girlfriend Preeyanuch Phutthikorn, 23, who were accused of running over Pol Colonel Thaweesak Daoreung, 30, during a crackdown in Soi Lat Phrao 48 on Wednesday, were taken to the Ratchadapisek Criminal Court yesterday to get approval for the initial 12 days in detention. Police said they have another 10 witnesses to interview.

The couple was caught while reportedly delivering 200 ya ba tablets and 6.8 grams of crystal meth to a customer. They confessed to murdering a policeman, attempting murder and possessing drugs with the intention to sell, the police report said.

Police are objecting to a bail release on grounds that this is a serious offence and there is a high flight risk.

After seeing Alongkorn's swollen and bruised face during a visit yesterday, his father Prapan told reporters that he hoped police officers would not hurt his son again because he had, after all, been arrested, had confessed to his crimes and was cooperating.

-- The Nation 2012-01-14

[BookMan]

Another lovely photo opportunity for all the police involved.

[Hooters]

no nigerians mentioned

[whybother]

What!! No arbitrary killings?? What sort of Shinawatra government is this?

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[phiphidon]

What!! No arbitrary killings?? What sort of Shinawatra government is this?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

That's right, no abritary killings. What will there be to talk about now?

[OzMick]

What!! No arbitrary killings?? What sort of Shinawatra government is this?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

That's right, no abritary killings. What will there be to talk about now?

"The couple was caught while reportedly delivering 200 ya ba tablets and 6.8 grams of crystal meth to a customer. They confessed to murdering a policeman, attempting murder and possessing drugs with the intention to sell, the police report said."

You may note that the young lady is also accused of murder as she was committing a crime when her co-perpetrator (the driver) committed a murder. This view of criminal responsibility/accountability is common, and one I hold in respect of many persons now about to receive inordinately high compensation from this government.

[Cnxforever]

again just "window dressing" and a photo opportunity for the police - only small peddlers arrested - none of the big shots who supply them and sent them out on the streets to do the dirty work for them ever gets arrested! There is never any follow up to the source where the drugs originated.

Too much money involved - stage a little show now and then and keep he money flowing.......

[impulse]

Six pistols and only 29 bullets? That's wrong on a lot of levels.....

[rkidlad]

Criminals arresting criminals.

[MaiChai]

Its all happy times in my neighborhood: Reminder to self: find somewhere better to live.

Edited January 14, 2012 by MaiChai

[julemanden]

Criminals arresting criminals.

+1

[blackthorn2005]

"He confessed that he made drug deals on the phone before customers wired him the money and he delivered the drugs. He said he was forced to deal in drugs because the recent floods had forced him to fall behind in his car payments." No sympathy, commit the crime, do the time.

[Reasonableman]

Must be a Thais-only crackdown. Are imported dealers somehow immune? Same old suspects still operating in the sois around here.

[ginjag]

Criminals arresting criminals.

hello rkidlad, agreed. out of the 244 known traffickers -so they had records I presume, any of these have ever given the names of the BIG deal suppliers ???????????? not one has ever squealed ?????? and if so have they been quietly been given inactive posts ??? normally it would state of any farangs involved. This Known traffickers statement puzzles me, 244 of them, if known why didn't they pick them up when first KNOWN, or is the delay to cover up the top notches.

[monty1412]

Love the look on the cops face standing far right.. he's like looking at the seated one thinking " what a dick, we do all the hard yards and he gets the glory. That or either the prune juice his wife made him take in the morning is starting to work.

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

I wonder how much of these so called drugs were planted...?

[KhunHay]

Wow !! Terriffic !!

Arrested 707 !!! What a great number !!!

Have they not realised arresting such small drug pushers does not solve the root problem?? !! Thailand is a 60 million population and they are many more scape goats to recruit after these 707 people being arrested.

Com'on Narcotic Officer, knowing you are too lazy to investigate and identify those who really involve as pusher, i am sure many of these 707 are arrested just because they happen to be together with their friends.

Stop trying to show big numbers on people arrested. You will impress more if you can arrest the BIG BOSS instead.

[KhunHay]

I wonder how much of these so called drugs were planted...?

There are no need to plant, they simply assume people are part of teh syndicate as long as they are with any person who possess drugs. So next time, all of us better body check friends and relative before you even stand next to them. Unlike other countries, if you are not caught with possession of drugs. Benefit of doubts are usually given after base on thorough investigation. But here, we have a bunch of lazy people.

That how they get the number.

Edited January 14, 2012 by KhunHay

[pauljones]

What!! No arbitrary killings?? What sort of Shinawatra government is this?

Posted with Thaivisa App http://apps.thaivisa.com

The yellow team has had years to pin that one on Thaksin.

Why didn't they investigate I wonder?

[patroller]

Love the look on the cops face standing far right.. he's like looking at the seated one thinking " what a dick, we do all the hard yards and he gets the glory. That or either the prune juice his wife made him take in the morning is starting to work.

[Commentor]

Criminals arresting criminals.

Wrong. It corruptors accusing and arresting accusers

Everytime i see all these police with big headlines on 'claiming' job well done. IT makes me puke.

[Commentor]

I wonder how much of these so called drugs were planted...?

There are no need to plant, they simply assume people are part of teh syndicate as long as they are with any person who possess drugs. So next time, all of us better body check friends and relative before you even stand next to them. Unlike other countries, if you are not caught with possession of drugs. Benefit of doubts are usually given after base on thorough investigation. But here, we have a bunch of lazy people.

That how they get the number.

You forget to mention that how they make the prison so cramp so hot a place for the real criminal by placing innocent poor who are helpless to engage any lawyer or buy their way out.

Edited January 14, 2012 by metisdead
Please do not post in all capital letters, bold, unusual fonts, sizes or colors. It can be difficult to read.

[Commentor]

Quoted: "In yet another case, Huai Khwang police arrested Arun Phutthaisong, 20, for having 880 ya ba tablets and two grams of crystal meth in his possession. Police also confiscated the Bt200,000 they found on the suspect's person, Winai added"

I learn something today. Drug pusher do carry around Bt 200,000 with them all the time incase they need changes on their deals.

WHAT A STORY ??!!

[Commentor]

Must be a Thais-only crackdown. Are imported dealers somehow immune? Same old suspects still operating in the sois around here.

Importers and Sole distributors are safe. They are 'their' pay masters, 'their' life style and livelihood depends on them.

So long as these imorters and sole distributors coorperate to provide a long list of names of their runners to let make them look goods. The soceity will praise them.

Edited January 14, 2012 by Commentor

[hgma]

OK

cops are corrupt......all of them.....not these ones!

Accidently ever had experience with a druginfected neighborhood?

OK

Its not a western costum to parade suspects around...so isn't dancing naked on a bar table.

does every Thai women dance naked on a bar table?

the point i am trying to make is that commenting in order to ventilate frustration is ok with me

but in making fools of serious policing by honest cops on a regular basis .....not.

Is it because life is a joke in Thailand that so many foreigners stay here???? or is it because so many foreigners make a joke of Thailand the reason of visa runs just to STAY in he Kingdom??

[hanuman2543]

"After seeing Alongkorn's swollen and bruised face during a visit yesterday, his father Prapan told reporters that he hoped police officers would not hurt his son again because he had, after all, been arrested, had confessed to his crimes and was cooperating."

In other countries this would be torture and police brutality. Proof obtained by using tortue is not valid in court (except in Guantanamo).

[Commentor]

OK

cops are corrupt......all of them.....not these ones!

Accidently ever had experience with a druginfected neighborhood?

OK

Its not a western costum to parade suspects around...so isn't dancing naked on a bar table.

does every Thai women dance naked on a bar table?

the point i am trying to make is that commenting in order to ventilate frustration is ok with me

but in making fools of serious policing by honest cops on a regular basis .....not.

Is it because life is a joke in Thailand that so many foreigners stay here???? or is it because so many foreigners make a joke of Thailand the reason of visa runs just to STAY in he Kingdom??

Whether or not any foreigner stay in Thailand has no relevant to this topic here. While i am sure many stay in Thailand because they respect the culture, history, it environment and their nice people. Most importantly, it law and it should be a fair law. Does it means that foreigner who stay in the country must condone such courrupted cops? Nether does comparing corrupted cops with and insulting modesty of Thai woman here as naked bar dancer .

The facts is many knows these cops are lazy and corrupted and nobody mentioned every single one of them are. Base on articles i read, Thai friends that i have. The systems does not give a fair trials to certain genuine innocent people.

So nobody is making any joke out of anyone and vice versa but you just did one on yourself.

[gemini81]

Takes criminals to know criminals.

[BigJohnnyBKK]

What!! No arbitrary killings?? What sort of Shinawatra government is this?

The yellow team has had years to pin that one on Thaksin. Why didn't they investigate I wonder?

Because most Thais thought the only problem with those killings was the negative publicity overseas, it was a very popular campaign domestically. At the time, the most negative sentiments I heard from ordinary Thais was along the lines of "to make an omelet you have to break some eggs".

again just "window dressing" and a photo opportunity for the police - only small peddlers arrested - none of the big shots who supply them and sent them out on the streets to do the dirty work for them ever gets arrested! There is never any follow up to the source where the drugs originated. Too much money involved - stage a little show now and then and keep he money flowing.......

You might think you're being cynical, but you're actually being naive.

The Thai military and police forces are mafia networks themselves, and of course the most powerful two, both closely tied to Thailand's 1%, and although sometimes competitive over their criminal activities, usually keep conflict at low enough levels so it doesn't interfere with business as usual. The macro-level red-vs-yellow conflict is IMO due to one side trying to dominate the other more forcefully than what has been historically considered good practice.

Seen in this light, any systematic attempts to go after organized criminal activity in Thailand by any government agency is most accurately viewed as reducing the competition, ensuring an orderly (i.e controlled) market for their very profitable side businesses.

There are of course honest and virtuous members in all of the above-mentioned groups, but they tend to be relatively low-level and therefore powerless to change the system itself, which is inherently corrupt. IMO this overall situation is unlikely to change significantly within the lifetime of anyone reading this.

Many people find Thailand's political/economic system to be confusing and irrational, but it isn't at all if you keep these facts in mind when interpreting events and news stories here. Suddenly you realize it's all perfectly logical, and those in control are very intelligent, with most of their actions of course designed to preserve the status quo, most of the time very effectively.

The only people hurt by this fundamentally corrupt reality are the 80% of the populaton who don't benefit from their association with those holding real power (= money and guns) and of course they therefore don't matter one bit to anyone who counts.

[TeddyFlyfisherDavis]

I wonder how much of these so called drugs were planted...?

There are no need to plant, they simply assume people are part of teh syndicate as long as they are with any person who possess drugs. So next time, all of us better body check friends and relative before you even stand next to them. Unlike other countries, if you are not caught with possession of drugs. Benefit of doubts are usually given after base on thorough investigation. But here, we have a bunch of lazy people.

That how they get the number.

Thanks for the input KhunHay...Peace.