Phuket Tourist Police expat volunteer arrested on crystal meth charges

[Lite Beer]

Garry Halpin ‘an ex Phuket Tourist Police volunteer’ says top cop
Prapaporn Jitmaneeyaphan

PHUKET: Pol Maj Urumporn Koondejsumrit, an inspector with the Tourist Police, has confirmed Garry Halpin was not a Tourist Police volunteer at the time of his arrest on crystal methamphetamine charges.

Maj Urumporn told The Phuket News this morning that Halpin’s official contract/licence as a volunteer with the Tourist Police expired in April this year, and he did not come in to renew it.

Halpin was arrested last night after police caught him with 18.45 grammes of crystal methamphetamine (ya ice) at a Chalong hotel. Originally from New Zealand, Halpin has lived in Phuket for more than 15 years and has been a long-time Tourist Police volunteer. He was charged with possession of a category one drug with intent to sell.

Maj Urumporn did not believe the arrest would do any damage to the reputation of rest of his Tourist Police volunteers, as Mr Halpin was no longer a volunteer.

“He was very nice, and very helpful. He had not been in trouble with the police before or during his time as a Tourist Police volunteer. Before we allow people to join as a volunteer we check their personality and police records.”

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/garry-halpin-%E2%80%98an-ex-phuket-tourist-police-volunteer%E2%80%99-says-top-cop-43450.php

-- Phuket News 2013-12-15

[Sloopydee]

How much is 18grams worth?

[PeterSmiles]

That is terrible a person in a position of trust that should be looked up to.

I wonder why they mention 'Samsung Galaxy phone and other drug related equipment' in one sentence?

I think we had 1 or 2 similar cases in Pattaya, isn't it ?

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Maj Urumporn did not believe the arrest would do any damage to the reputation of rest of his Tourist Police volunteers, as Mr Halpin was no longer a volunteer.

I'd say that view is probably pretty unrealistically optimistic. Unless you took the view that they don't really have any reputations capable of being damaged.

“He was very nice, and very helpful. He had not been in trouble with the police before or during his time as a Tourist Police volunteer. Before we allow people to join as a volunteer we check their personality and police records.”

Maybe the Tourist Police need to do a bit more thorough checking.

I don't know this individual involved or anything about him. But, IF someone is really involved in meth ice drug dealing, I'd tend to doubt they were clean as snow before and then suddenly went bad in a matter of 6 or 8 months.

Indeed, there have been a whole series of news reports over the years of various farang tourist police types getting involved in nefarious stuff and sometimes even eventually getting arrested for crimes. It's one of those areas where I've seen enough smoke over the years to make me believe there's some fire as well.

Having farang police volunteers to ASSIST Thai police -- not serve as policemen themselves -- strikes me as a good idea in theory. But perhaps like so many other things in Thai society, the good theory and principles of things get corrupted once they operate out in the real world.

Edited December 15, 2013 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[abcdefghi]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

[abcdefghi]

Its hard to stand up for the guy if what he has 'supposedly' admitted to is true.

He was one of the nicest guys you would meet, had a hugely successful company and wife(maybe ex as it was often a love hate relationship) and 2 kids, those poor kids, especially the girl now old enough to understand.

Thank you for your kind words on Garry, and yes he and Mint are unfortunately no longer together.

[HeavyDrinker]

Surely the time is coming to end this TPV exercise once and for all? It seems to have failed everywhere it's been tried.

[NamKangMan]

Probably didn't renew because of the drug testing.

[simon43]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

[DekDaeng]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Alphabet - are you discounting the possibility of a setup?

Has he 'accepted' the charges, or 'acknowledged' the charges? Mai muan gun.

[simon43]

Surely the time is coming to end this TPV exercise once and for all? It seems to have failed everywhere it's been tried.

Untrue - you only hear the bad stories. But one rotten apple is one too many. But there are many volunteers who perform their duties diligently and honestly.

[blowin]

T.police are worse than the mafia . I know one

city where the head of the TPV is a very powerful

person and is not to be crossed. He has contacts

across the board so very dangerous and his black

shirt private army are also dangerous .

[abcdefghi]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Alphabet - are you discounting the possibility of a setup?

Has he 'accepted' the charges, or 'acknowledged' the charges? Mai muan gun.

I'm not going to comment on that as that's for him to say his side of the story, obviously the way he was caught was a set up but it happens all the time and he was doing something wrong which he will now have to face up to.

[IrishIvan]

Surely the time is coming to end this TPV exercise once and for all? It seems to have failed everywhere it's been tried.

These volunteers are a joke. They watch too many dirty harry movies. I dont see people lining up to join maritime rescue or fire fighting. The uniform is the glory. My parents were out in Patong a couple of months ago and saw some in Bangla road. We then saw them marching through bars like some sort of paramillitary outfit. Complete with combat boots. When I explained what they do my parents laughed. TVPs for the most part are a laughing stock and not taken seriously by tourists.

If they were serious about helping people then they should lose the batman style utility belt and combat boots. And adopt a more tourist friendly uniform like a floral shirt and sunhat. With a translator style service... not a swat team look.

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[IrishIvan]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Alphabet - are you discounting the possibility of a setup?

Has he 'accepted' the charges, or 'acknowledged' the charges? Mai muan gun.

I'm not going to comment on that as that's for him to say his side of the story, obviously the way he was caught was a set up but it happens all the time and he was doing something wrong which he will now have to face up to.

its not the only thing he was doing and he has been doing it for years. Watch this space

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[abcdefghi]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

Well don't believe what you read because he has not accepted any charges as of right now. It also says he lived in Thailand for 15 years yet he has lived in Thailand for over 30 years.

Good for you that you are a Tourist Police Volunteer and you should be proud. Yes he has done the wrong thing, I completely agree but you cannot blame him for your (ex) wife buying drugs....thats that individuals decisions and not to be blamed on where they get it from! so I'd have to disagree and say your wife was SCUM. He denies selling the drugs so innocent on that count until proven guilty.

Yes he has made a horrible choice but don't you think he is now going to pay for it for the rest of his life?! As are his children????

Edited December 15, 2013 by abcdefghi

[NamKangMan]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

"I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV" - looks like Gary has "tarnished the image" of the Phuket TPV.

[abcdefghi]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

Alphabet - are you discounting the possibility of a setup?

Has he 'accepted' the charges, or 'acknowledged' the charges? Mai muan gun.

I'm not going to comment on that as that's for him to say his side of the story, obviously the way he was caught was a set up but it happens all the time and he was doing something wrong which he will now have to face up to.

its not the only thing he was doing and he has been doing it for years. Watch this space

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

[DonThaiToMe]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

Can´t see why you would be granted any higher moral ground, beeing a self-confessed customer at ´The Eden Club´

[Ulic]

There has to be a better way to deal with the drug problem world wide. I feel sorry for them all. Drug addicts,

drug sellers, the population that have to pay for all the drug enforcement. The corruption that is associated

with the drug industry.The lives of the families. This volunteer wanna be tourist cop is hardly a big fish. Can't

imagine he made more than enough to pay for his own probable habit and a little extra fun money per month.

Now he is going to spend quite some time in the monkey house. I feel sorry for his family. Tough on them

knowing they have a family member in the Bangkok Hilton. "Just say no" is the easy answer. I don't take

illegal drugs, but I don't judge others that do either. No winners here except for the "Mister Bigs"

[IrishIvan]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

Can´t see why you would be granted any higher moral ground, beeing a self-confessed customer at ´The Eden Club´

going to the Eden club is hardly in the same league as selling ice. We didnt all come here for the temples

Sent from my GT-N7100 using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[PeterSmiles]

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

Fine, you have defended your mate good, and he was not a dealer.

Since you know him so well, tell us what he was doing with 18 gram of Meth in his room. It's not that a user stocks up because he expects a price rise is it.

[abcdefghi]

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

Fine, you have defended your mate good, and he was not a dealer.

Since you know him so well, tell us what he was doing with 18 gram of Meth in his room. It's not that a user stocks up because he expects a price rise is it.

First of all have you read anything I wrote.... I have not denied he did anything wrong...he is in the wrong. Secondly he is not my MATE he is a very close member of my FAMILY. I said he denies dealing and is innocent until proven guilty. He does have personal issues and whatever he chooses to accept or deny our family will support him (however we are very disappointed and do not condone this at all...I just want to make that clear!!!)

Does anyone wonder HOW he was caught???? What about the THAI native who first sold Garry the drugs??? He himself was caught and in exchange for getting off the hook set Garry up plus an exchange of $$$$ was given to the corrupt Thai cops.

Edited December 15, 2013 by abcdefghi

[Sloopydee]

Wouldn't teaching English be a better option than dealing in 18grams of ice, for someone so kind as Garry?

there's no excuses for a man of his age, with two childern, to be selling this crap.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Sloopydee

[PeterSmiles]

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

Fine, you have defended your mate good, and he was not a dealer.

Since you know him so well, tell us what he was doing with 18 gram of Meth in his room. It's not that a user stocks up because he expects a price rise is it.

First of all have you read anything I wrote.... I have not denied he did anything wrong...he is in the wrong. Secondly he is not my MATE he is a very close member of my FAMILY. I said he denies dealing and is innocent until proven guilty. He does have personal issues and whatever he chooses to accept or deny our family will support him (however we are very disappointed and do not condone this at all...I just want to make that clear!!!)

Does anyone wonder HOW he was caught???? What about the THAI native who first sold Garry the drugs??? He himself was caught and in exchange for getting off the hook set Garry up plus an exchange of $$$$ was given to the corrupt Thai cops.

I think you missed the point of my question, if he wasn't a dealer, then what was he doing with 18 grams of meth ?

[Suradit69]

Why would a farang being honest? He only needs to see how all Thai police support themselves. It's how it works here.

They learn from their colleagues...

'Why would a farang being honest?"

Maybe they don't read Thai Visa and therefore don't have all the reliable "inside" information about the Thai police that's available to you.

Edited December 15, 2013 by Suradit69

[harrry]

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

According to the charges (which he apparently has accepted), he was not using drugs, but dealing ya ice and ya bah.

Please don't talk to me about terrible choices. I am a Tourist Police Volunteer in Phuket and proud of that fact. I saw my marriage and family life destroyed due to scum like him selling drugs to my (now ex) wife.

Like Wal (see previous post with his comments), I am completely p*ssed off with Gary. His illegal activites will forever be linked to his work as a TPV - there is no question about that.

There are many honest and hard-working volunteer police in Phuket and other locations. We are not all power-crazy and corrupt (the last time I wore jackboots was at Eden Club....)

I am frankly, shocked that he could stoop so low as to deal in drugs, using his TPV status as some form of protection and immunity.

Simon

In that case I have no sympathy whatsoever. A user who sells may have a slight excuse but someone who does that and causes the harm it does to others and their families deserves everything he gets and more.

[abcdefghi]

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

Fine, you have defended your mate good, and he was not a dealer.

Since you know him so well, tell us what he was doing with 18 gram of Meth in his room. It's not that a user stocks up because he expects a price rise is it.

First of all have you read anything I wrote.... I have not denied he did anything wrong...he is in the wrong. Secondly he is not my MATE he is a very close member of my FAMILY. I said he denies dealing and is innocent until proven guilty. He does have personal issues and whatever he chooses to accept or deny our family will support him (however we are very disappointed and do not condone this at all...I just want to make that clear!!!)

Does anyone wonder HOW he was caught???? What about the THAI native who first sold Garry the drugs??? He himself was caught and in exchange for getting off the hook set Garry up plus an exchange of $$$$ was given to the corrupt Thai cops.

I think you missed the point of my question, if he wasn't a dealer, then what was he doing with 18 grams of meth ?

No I got your question but as I replied to you, that is up for Garry to accept or deny. I know Garry has many flaws but he's also a wonderful person and father. So obviously you must be smart enough to make your mind up about what he could possibly be doing with 18g of meth. I don't need to spell anything out to you.

[NamKangMan]

Believe me he is by no means an angel (AS NO ONE IS) he is a guy who does like to have fun, is adventurous, care free but has a huge heart and he has done so much good that is now tainted by this. Don't tell me to watch this space please as I know more than you ever will on this topic

Fine, you have defended your mate good, and he was not a dealer.

Since you know him so well, tell us what he was doing with 18 gram of Meth in his room. It's not that a user stocks up because he expects a price rise is it.

First of all have you read anything I wrote.... I have not denied he did anything wrong...he is in the wrong. Secondly he is not my MATE he is a very close member of my FAMILY. I said he denies dealing and is innocent until proven guilty. He does have personal issues and whatever he chooses to accept or deny our family will support him (however we are very disappointed and do not condone this at all...I just want to make that clear!!!)

Does anyone wonder HOW he was caught???? What about the THAI native who first sold Garry the drugs??? He himself was caught and in exchange for getting off the hook set Garry up plus an exchange of $$$$ was given to the corrupt Thai cops.

Really. Why did he accept the drugs from the Thai dealer? Your post states "he is in the wrong." Then you state "He himself was caught and in exchange for getting off the hook set Garry up." So, which one is it? He's in the wrong - or was set up????

Is his defence going to be that he went for the deal - under cover?

Edited December 15, 2013 by NamKangMan

[briboy]

First of all Garry Halpin is a member of my family and we are absolutely shocked and saddened by this news. Garry is a wonderful, kind, caring and GENEROUS person who has made some devastatingly bad decisions!

For everyone saying he should be made an example of and should rot in jail, please know he is the sole provider and carer for two young children and you cannot judge someone based on an awful mistake when you do not know him nor know what led to him being put in this stupid situation...desperate times call for desperate measures...and NO that does not condone or justify doing what he did but he has been going through tough times recently. Our family only wishes now that we knew the extent of this so that we could help.

He is not a terrible person, he has just made a terrible terrible choice.

maybe so BUT it was HIS choice, especially as you say he had family to turn to that would of helped, I have made some awful choices and decisions in my life time and burnt my bridges as I went so had no one to help, I never turned to crime as such to help though.