Busted kratom dealers, protected-bird poachers face hefty fines, jail-time
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: In six separate raids on Saturday (July 11) night, Thalang police made five arrests while seizing 7.6 kilos of the the mildly psychoactive plant Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a bottle of kratom-infused drink and a total of 44 protected birds.

In the first raid, conducted at about 5pm, a mixed task force – under the command of Thalang district chief Mr Wira Kerdsirmongkol – arrested Ms Chabaprai Gum-naamjun, 44, at a house in the Thepkrasattri sub district’s Moo 4, seizing from her B200, marked as “bate money”, along with 200 grams of fresh kratom leaves.

Authorities were chasing a tip-off about someone smuggling “kilos” of the restricted plant from Surat Thani to sell in small amounts to Phuket teens.

Native to Southeast Asia, the plant is widely used to treat pain, boost energy, alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, and promote feelings of wellness and happiness.

Nonethless, police charged Ms Chabaprai with having possession of a schedule 5 drug, and detained her while they expanded their investigation.

Meanwhile, at 5.25pm, the task force took notice of a suspicious neighbouring house, and quickly moved in to arrest 25-year-old Mr Piyapun Saenpun, who was caught with four red junglefowl; seven caged tailorbirds; three caged white-breasted waterhens; 12 caged white-rumped shamas; two caged parrots; one caged white-bellied sea-eagle and three bird traps.

The suspect, who admitted he had intended to sell or trade some of the birds, was arrested and charged with catching or trying to catch regulated wild animals, and having possession of protected wild animals, charges which carry up to four years in prison and/or a fine not exceeding B40,000.

Then, at 5.30pm the force moved in to raid another house nearby, seizing six red-whiskered bulbuls, a protected species. There was no one home, however, so police were only able to seize the birds without making an arrest.

Expanding their investigation from their initial arrests, police at 9.10pm raided another Thalang home, arresting 30-year-old Mr Nattapong Leecharern with 1.2 kilos of fresh Kratom leaves, along with one 450cc bottle of infused Kratom drink, charging him with possession of a category five drug with intent to sell.

Simultaneously, the force moved in on another house to arrest 43-year-old Mr Udom Chanojut, who was caught with seven red-whiskered bulbuls and two white-rumped shamas.

Finally, at 9.34pm, the force moved in on one final house, netting 60-year-old Ms Bunjob Menoon with 6.2 kilos of fresh kratom, along with two packs of black plastic bags for separating the leaves.

She was also booked at Thalang Police Station and charged with possession of a schedule 5 drug with intent to sell, a charge which carries a prison sentence of between 2 to 5 years and/or fine of B40,000 to B200,000 (less than 10kg).

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/busted-kratom-dealers-protected-bird-poachers-face-hefty-fines-jail-time-53179.php

-- Phuket News 2015-07-12

The mildly psychoactive plant Kratom. Native to Southeast Asia, the plant is widely used to treat pain, boost energy, alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, and promote feelings of wellness and happiness.

Yet, no mention that Thailand is the only country in the world where Kratom is illegal.

This guy wasn't hedging his bets.

They say a bird in the hand is worth 2 in the bush.

He decided to corner the market on both.

White -rumped Shamas are stunning birds. I took this last month. Why would anyone want to keep them in a cage!

protected-bird poachers, everyone could find them in Chatuchak market. Everyday, 365 days/year.

I taught the son, and sometimes daughter, of a person very high in the TRP in Bangkok. The son, many times confessed that his father had over 25 illegally imported Macaws, some of which were on the endangered list, and had two large, rare, fish from the Amazon, which were kept in captivity in a pond on their property. There were claims for other birds and animals held in captivity but because of his father's position he claimed nothing would ever be done about it. Never seen any news of arrests, etc., until this report.

The mildly psychoactive plant Kratom. Native to Southeast Asia, the plant is widely used to treat pain, boost energy, alleviate anxiety and depression symptoms, and promote feelings of wellness and happiness.

Yet, no mention that Thailand is the only country in the world where Kratom is illegal.

According to the Transnational Institute:

In Thailand, kratom was first scheduled for control in 1943 under the Kratom Act. At the time, the government was levying taxes from users and shops involved in the opium trade. Because of the increasing opium costs, many users were switching to kratom to manage their withdrawal symptoms. However, the launch of the Greater East Asia War in 1942 and declining revenues from the opium trade pushed the Thai government into action to curb and suppress competition in the opium market by making kratom illegal.

As of October 2, 2013, the justice ministry of Thailand suggested removal of kratom from the narcotic drug list relating to Category 5 of the Narcotic Drug Law of 1979, though still recommended regulating kratom in other ways due to its effects on the nervous system. This recommendation will be made to the Ministry of Public Health, which can move forward with the removal from the list or not.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitragyna_speciosa

Kratom is illegal in Burma and Malaysia and is listed as a controlled substance in several other countries including Australia and several American states.

meanwhile, I can head down to my local smoke shop any day of the week and purchase kratom powder extract...

protected-bird poachers, everyone could find them in Chatuchak market. Everyday, 365 days/year.

yep, rather go after the a small time bit of ganja than busting up sales of endangered animals that have no business being sold anywhere, bravo