Arrested American part of 'major trafficking ring in Southeast Asia'

[webfact]

Arrested American part of 'major trafficking ring in Southeast Asia'


Four of the six suspects capped by alleged kingpin trafficker American Joseph Manuel Hunter, 47, far right. Photo: Apichit Jinakul

PHUKET: -- The arrest in Phuket of an American man and five other suspects for allegedly running an international drug trafficking network was conducted as part of a joint operation with Nigeria and Kenya, police say.

Joseph Manuel Hunter, 47, the drug network's alleged leader, and five suspected accomplices were arrested in Phuket on Wednesday evening and flown to Bangkok Thursday for questioning.

Narcotics Suppression Division 1 commander Chaiya Rujjanavet said police forces in Nigeria and Kenya conducted similar operations on the same day. Two eastern European men were arrested in Nigeria and two others in Kenya.

Narcotics police arrested Mr Hunter at the Phuket Country Club, after he was identified by US officials.

The same team of police then searched for additional suspects in the Patong Beach area, leading to the arrest of five more people - two Britons, a Slovakian, a Filipino and a Taiwanese.

Deputy police chief Somyot Pumpanmuang called Mr Hunter a "leading drug lord" wanted for drug smuggling, trafficking and other international crimes, which he did not specify.

"This group was considered to be a big network that spanned many countries," including Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines, he said.

Mr Hunter served in the US Navy, and his alleged accomplices were also believed to have had military training, police said.

"All these people were trained to kill," Pol Lt Gen Somyot told reporters at a police airport in Bangkok, where the suspects were flown Thursday from Phuket.

Pol Maj Gen Chaiya said the four eastern European men departed Phuket on Monday to travel to Nigeria and Kenya to contact their drug networks.

Pol Maj Gen Chaiya said he believed they were also working as assassins.

The covert operation to swoop on the gang was conducted after the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB) had worked closely with the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). Mr Hunter was on the DEA's most wanted list.

The US embassy in Thailand had asked the Foreign Ministry to contact the police forces to arrest the men.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Manasvi Srisodapol said Thursday the ministry had received a letter from the US embassy on Sept 17. The ministry then asked the Office of the Attorney-General to seek arrest warrants for the suspects.

Pol Maj Gen Tanai Apichartseni, a commander attached to the NSB, who also joined the raid, said there was no warrant for Mr Hunter but Thai police were able to arrest him as his passport had been revoked by the US. Due to the revocation of his passport, Thai authorities have the option of deporting him immediately.

Pol Maj Gen Tanai said Mr Hunter will be deported to stand trial in the US on drug trafficking charges.

He will be taken into custody at the US embassy in Thailand Saturday.

"The arrested four European men are killers and bodyguards of Hunter. This group is considered to be a major drug network. They mainly sell ice [crystal methamphetamine] and cocaine," Pol Maj Gen Chaiya said.

He said the network spanned many countries including Thailand, Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Taiwan, Hong Kong and the Philippines.

A warrant for Mr Hunter's arrest was issued by the New York Southern District Court on July 17, according to Pol Gen Priewphan Damapong, adviser to the NSB chief.

Mr Hunter arrived in Phuket on Sept 6 and had stayed there since. The US embassy was advised of his trip to Thailand and contacted Thai authorities.

Sources said Thai investigators had worked closely with US officials in a highly classified operation.

Local police units and officials were not made aware of the operation.

Pol Maj Gen Chaiya said police had made a great deal of progress cracking down on the gang in Thailand.

He said he was certain that no more members of the gang remained in the country. He said, however, that many more network members are believed to be staying in several other Asean countries.

NSB commissioner Chaiwat Chotima said initial investigations indicated Mr Hunter was the leader of outlawed motorcycle gangs in many countries including Thailand and the US.

Pol Lt Gen Chaiwat said Mr Hunter was involved in many illegal activities.


-- Phuket News 2013-09-27

Related:
Phuket Police arrest US drugs fugitive
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/670486-phuket-police-arrest-us-drugs-fugitive/

[uty6543]

They will hopefully spend the rest of their lives in jail. Whilst they have probably enjoyed a lavish lifestyle it is never worth it.

[clockman]

So no Thai person involved! can anybody believe these people?

[webfact]

Ex-US Navy seaman, 5 others arrested suspected drug trafficking
By English News



BANGKOK, Sept 27 – Thai and US police arrested a former American Navy seaman and five accomplices in connection with drug trafficking and other offences, a senior Thai police officer said.

Deputy National Police chief Somyot Poompanmoung said members of the group, belonging to an international mafia network, were nabbed in Phuket and flown to Bangkok for questioning.

The suspects included Joseph Manuel Hunter, a former US Navy Special Forces officer, two British nationals, a Slovakian, a Filipino and a Taiwanese.

Pol Gen Somyot said Thai police were earlier tipped off by their US counterparts on gang members who had been in hiding in Thailand. They entered Phuket on September 6.

Narcotics Suppression Police commander Chaiwat Chotima said the suspects had been involved in smuggling and exporting various kinds of drugs including ice (crystal methamphetamine), cocaine and heroin with a global connection.

The group has also been involved in other illegal activities including the sex trade in many countries, he said.

The arrest was made simultaneously with apprehensions of four suspects of the same network in Liberia and two others in Lithuania. All will be deported to the US for trial. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2013-09-27

[phuketrichard]

"....part of a joint operation with Nigeria and Kenya"

would love to know their involvement

...International mafia network... ??????

[laurentbkk]

BRAVO

[elwood]

So no Thai person involved! can anybody believe these people?

The Americans supplied a list of the suspects they wanted arrested, and the Thai police arrested them. Whether or not any Thais are involved wasn't the concern of the arresting officers; the request was to arrest those people and this was done. How about being glad that such evil bar stewards have been captured?

[LivinginKata]

Good work by the Thai police.

[Tywais]

Local police units and officials were not made aware of the operation.

Trust issues?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

These two things stood out in the news report above. Guess the first item means they actually intended to catch these guys...

Sources said Thai investigators had worked closely with US officials in a highly classified operation.

Local police units and officials were not made aware of the operation.

NSB commissioner Chaiwat Chotima said initial investigations indicated Mr Hunter was the leader of outlawed motorcycle gangs in many countries including Thailand and the US.

BTW, the AP version of this reported from Bangkok made the Washington Post...

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/american-wanted-by-us-for-international-drug-smuggling-is-arrested-in-thailand/2013/09/26/d5cb59d2-2686-11e3-9372-92606241ae9c_story.html

But nothing in that article on this guy from the U.S. end of things... It's all the Thai version.

Edited September 27, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[KED]

So no Thai person involved! can anybody believe these people?

The Americans supplied a list of the suspects they wanted arrested, and the Thai police arrested them. Whether or not any Thais are involved wasn't the concern of the arresting officers; the request was to arrest those people and this was done. How about being glad that such evil bar stewards have been captured?

Yes,great that these kingpins were arrested - but there must be also some Thai leaders involved also - where are their arrests?

[MMarlow]

So no Thai person involved! can anybody believe these people?

The Americans supplied a list of the suspects they wanted arrested, and the Thai police arrested them. Whether or not any Thais are involved wasn't the concern of the arresting officers; the request was to arrest those people and this was done. How about being glad that such evil bar stewards have been captured?

Yes,great that these kingpins were arrested - but there must be also some Thai leaders involved also - where are their arrests?

Why must there be some Thais involved?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

A search of the US DEA website appears to show no mention of this guy, at least under the name reported here... Kind of odd for someone who's supposedly on the "most wanted" list.

http://searchjustice.usdoj.gov/search?q=%2522Joseph%2BManuel%2BHunter%2522&btnG=Search&client=default_frontend&output=xml_no_dtd&proxystylesheet=dea&ie=iso-8859-1&oe=UTF-8&num=10&lr=&sort=date%3AD%3AL%3Ad1&entqr=0&entqrm=0&ud=1&site=default_collection

Sometimes the local reports here botch the name...which makes finding U.S. news matches problematic.

But often....the cases described as big deals here have no news reporting at all back in the U.S., which kind of makes you wonder if perhaps the locals here at times aren't playing fast and loose with the alleged truth.

Edited September 27, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[colinneil]

Local police /officials not informed about the operation , !! i wonder WHY!!

[lastbastion]

Local police /officials not informed about the operation , !! i wonder WHY!!

There are some crazy people around.

[sunshine51]

"The suspects included Joseph Manuel Hunter, a former US Navy Special Forces officer....."

With his gut & stupidity I kinda doubt that.

[lee b]

These guys are a waste of skin.

[ajarnmarc]

Local police /officials not informed about the operation , !! i wonder WHY!!

Does anybody really care why?

If the operation was as serious as described,

then not informing local authorities is routine in any country.

No need for speculation.

[haybilly]

Only one person out of the 'gang' gets named--strange, surely they know who they have arrested?

[Emdog]

This bit from film "Magnificent Seven" came to mind regarding busting foreign drug dealers: Calvera: You'll do much better on the other side of the border. There you can steal cattle, hold up trains... all you have to face is sheriff, marshall. Once I rob a bank in Texas; your government get after me with a whole army... whole army! One little bank. Is clear the meaning: in Texas, only Texans can rob banks. Ha ha.

[they look at him in silence]

Calvera: Adios!

[paz]

Who is most happy about one trafficker arrest, beside the cops that got their 5 minutes of fame? The other gangs that can take their place.

Supply and demand will be unchanged, and all the people involved will keep their jobs. This is how our society deals with it.

[rotary]

Give them 30 days in the Bkk Hilton with Rat Turds on their pillows instead of mints. Make sure you tell them what happens at the end of 30 days several times each day then make them pay the ultimate penalty for their crime. Oh yea do not listen to the US Embassy about human rights and all they non essential stuff, These guys made a choice, let them pay for it now.

[drdoom6996]

"Sources said Thai investigators had worked closely with US officials in a highly classified operation".

I suppose this means the BIB didn't have a clue until the authorities asked them to quit playing cards for 20 minutes and help them out.

[nami]

jai yen yen, relax... This guys were just providing the offer to the existing demand, filling the gap that governments are unable to. There will always be demand and someone willing to take the risks to supply.

Anyway, it's a shame selling meth or cocaine when you are based so close to opium production, sell the good stuff! :-D

[MobileContent]

So no Thai person involved! can anybody believe these people?

Why not. If no Thai's on the list. Why always have to point fingers to the Thai's.

[Andre0720]

jai yen yen, relax... This guys were just providing the offer to the existing demand, filling the gap that governments are unable to. There will always be demand and someone willing to take the risks to supply.

Anyway, it's a shame selling meth or cocaine when you are based so close to opium production, sell the good stuff! :-D

Some people live through some phases of weakness in their lives, for many reasons. Teens...Some bad luck phases... and what else....

So le them be prey to some people who will sell them some bad drugs to alleviate their bad feelings. For a profit.. It will only fry their brains after all, which is what they want right...

What the hell is the matter with you????

[wwex]

I would doubt you could run a major drug dealing network in a place like Phuket without the cooperation of the local police

Edited September 27, 2013 by wwex

[mamypoko]

Say goodbye to those Hollywood showers, shipmate...

No BZ for you

[buck99]

"All these people were trained to kill," Pol Lt Gen Somyot told reporters at a police airport in Bangkok, where the suspects were flown Thursday from Phuket.

Mr Hunter was officer in the US Special Forces??? I doubt it. The article also says he was a US Navy Seaman (E3) which is a low ranking enlisted.

Maybe our BIB are playing loose with the facts to make this story more entertaining.

[paz]

Give them 30 days in the Bkk Hilton with Rat Turds on their pillows instead of mints. Make sure you tell them what happens at the end of 30 days several times each day then make them pay the ultimate penalty for their crime. Oh yea do not listen to the US Embassy about human rights and all they non essential stuff, These guys made a choice, let them pay for it now.

Absolutely! Also cut their hands, 200 whiplashes and let them die by hemorragy. Evidence is not necessary, if someone say they are criminal, that's whats they are, don't waste any trial Do not listen the US embassy (?!?), as human rights are, as you say, non-essential. Proportion in punishement is also a such and old concept, let's join North Korea instead, that is a good example on how thing should be done!