Phuket kratom plantation cleared by chainsaw-wielding police

[webfact]

Phuket kratom plantation cleared
Phuket Gazette

PHUKET: -- Police yesterday afternoon raided a property in Patong, on Phuket's west coast, and cut down about 20 kratom trees.

The orchard owner, named by police as Sathit Jaihaw, 37, had about 20 big kratom trees growing on his property, and in his house police found three small packages of harvested leaves pre-packed for sale.

Kratom leaves yield an illegal mild narcotic, and are chewed, brewed in tea, or used in the popular party cocktail “4x100”, which is created by mixing an extract from the leaves with cough syrup, cola and ice.

Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Somsak Thongkliang led 10 chainsaw-wielding officers to the loaction, and the trees were cut down and removed in the back of a truck.

“We received a report from our undercover officer that the property was being used for growing and storing kratom, for the purpose of selling the illegal product to laborers,” Lt Col Somsak told the Phuket Gazette.

Mr Sathit confessed, “I harvested the leaves and sold packages of 30 leaves for 100 baht to laborers. I've been doing this for 10 years.”

He has been charged with the possession, sale and distribution of a class 5 narcotic.

Recently the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) responded positively to the proposed legalization of kratom, which is currently on Thailand's narcotics list.

The ONCB will be meeting with the Food and Drug Administration, the Public Health Ministry and the National Police Office next week to discuss whether kratom should be removed from the list. Thailand is the only country at present that designates kratom as an illegal narcotic substance.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-kratom-plantation-cleared-22109.html


-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-29

[newermonkey]

"Thailand is the only country at present that designates kratom as an illegal narcotic substance."

Thailand is becoming a police state or should I say - Thailand is overrun by a state mafia. and an over sensitive government, pretty much everything will be illegal here soon.

It seem that NGO's from other countries only have to hint at something they don't quite like and the government obeys like brainless puppets. I don't know why the Thai people don't shout out against this ridiculous authoritarian state.

[lee b]

Wow the police have new weapons ! I'm staying well away

[TerryLH]

The law has been on the books for over 60 years.

What is it you don't like? That someone has asked for it to be taken off of the restricted list, and that it will be considered?

[jpduggan]

I only read this morning that they are discussing legalizing the stuff.

[farangbanok]

I guess this is the instructor for the chainsaw wielders!

It really takes balls to do his job

Edited August 29, 2013 by farangbanok

[pistachios]

Good news for yabaa dealers!

[tingtongteesood]

How gutted will he be if they legalize it a week after they destroyed his crops ?!

[hellodolly]

Maybe they should outlaw cough syrup, cola and ice also. That would definatly cut back on the demand.

Some how the News papers got a hold of this before the government could put a big narcotics haul on it with their spin doctors.

[Lite Beer]

Phuket kratom arrests continue as nation ponders decriminalizing the leaf
Phuket Gazette -

The three suspects indicate the bag of kratom leaves, kratom juice and pot of boiled leaves that led to their arrest. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Three Burmese men were arrested in Thalang yesterday for possession of kratom leaves.

Their arrest follows the felling of a kratom orchard in Patong three days ago and precedes a meeting of the Narcotics Control Board, Food and Drug Administration, Public Health Ministry and National Police next week about whether to decriminalize the leaf (story here).

The arrests yesterday at a workers’ camp on the Baan Don-Cherng Talay Road occurred during a routine immigration police patrol.

“We regularly go through the workers’ camps as part of a crime and drug-prevention campaign,” said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sunchai Chokkajaykit.

“This time, we noticed three men sitting together who looked nervous when they saw us. We went to see what they were doing, and discovered they were boiling kratom leaves,” he said.

Immigration officers seized the pot, seven kratom leaves in a bag, and a bottle of kratom drink.

The men – Maung Aung Ao, 24; Thant Zin Hein, 28; and Nyi Nyi Oo, 18 – were charged with possession of a Category 5 drug.

All three were taken to Phuket Immigration to be questioned and prosecuted.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-kratom-arrests-continue-as-nation-ponders-decriminalizing-the-leaf-22117.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-30