Drug tours in Mae Hong Son not allowed

[dirtydog]

Pot tours not welcomed in Pai
Saksit Meesubkwang

Col. Nopporn Ruenchan, Commander of the 7th Infantry Regiment Taskforce in Mae Hong Son met with Pai tour guides to warn them not to provide “drug tours” to visiting foreigners.

Tourists visiting the scenic town of Pai have apparently been requesting more than just an average tour of hilltribe villages.
According to the Office of the Narcotic Control Board visitors have been touring the hilltribe villages for the purpose of purchasing and consuming marijuana which has proliferated in the area.
Last week the Commander and his troops discovered a 1200 plant marijuana plantation in Ban Wai village. The troops chopped down the illegal crop and then burned the 1400 kilo seizure.
Pai police officers have noticed that tourists have been returning from these “pot tours” carrying stashes but the source of the marijuana was difficult to confirm.
As police investigations surfaced it was quickly determined that marijuana was being grown in several villages hidden amongst the farmers vegetable and rice fields.
Meanwhile the Commander warned all Pai tour guides to present only positive attractions such as the natural beauty and hilltribe life styles instead of introducing them to drug activities. “Drug tours are not a sustainable program when compared with natural attractions,” said Col. Nopporn.

Chiang Mai Mail

[corvettelover]

“Drug tours are not a sustainable program when compared with natural attractions,” said Col. Nopporn.

Beg to differ but it could be like a pub crawl.

A smokeathon 2,000 BAHT a day trip, would pick up Tourism in the area vastly

[Robski]

“Drug tours are not a sustainable program when compared with natural attractions,”

Why not have both?, double bubble!.

[terry57]

These cops have been getting around Pai piss testing back packers and i shit you not.

Get busted and pay the pigs big dollars.

On the southern islands its 60000 baht to walk.

Some back packers are blatant about it and no wonder they are getting in the shit.

jeez

[DrAndy]

making money from drugs is not new!

When I first went to Chiang Rai, trekking was newish and they took you up in the hills about 2 hours drive.

Staying overnight in some hilltribe village was always accompanied by offers of opium

nowadays you are more likely to get coffee there

[DrB0b]

Originally Posted by terry57

These cops have been getting around Pai piss testing back packers and i shit you not.

Get busted and pay the pigs big dollars.

On the southern islands its 60000 baht to walk.

Some back packers are blatant about it and no wonder they are getting in the shit.

jeez

Last week the cops raided lots of guesthouses/bungalows in Pai. I know a few of the owners up there and they said the cops had been sent from Bangkok. Looks like this time they were just trying to scare people, I haven't heard anything about people being arrested or squeezed for money.

[mad_dog]

These wankers who come to Thailand wearing Bob Marley t shirts to smoke weed and escape materialism deserve everything they get. hippie scum.

[Frankenstein]

The police presence in Pai has been beefed up since the new governor in Mae Hong Son came into power, for at least a year now. Very visible police everywhere in town, constant road blocks and plenty of busts.

Used to be a bit of a backwater with foreign hippies, but this will probably change soon. More and more sexpats, package tourists and Bangkok yuppies find their way there too.

[bar dog]

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

The police presence in Pai has been beefed up since the new governor in Mae Hong Son came into power, for at least a year now. Very visible police everywhere in town, constant road blocks and plenty of busts.

As long as it is legitimate busts and not just the cops using it as an excuse to extract tea money then I think it is good.

Originally Posted by Frankenstein

Used to be a bit of a backwater with foreign hippies, but this will probably change soon. More and more sexpats, package tourists and Bangkok yuppies find their way there too.

With the introduction of the airport and regular flights from Chiang Mai to Pai you can expect more weekend travellers.

[ebeth]

Originally Posted by bar dog

With the introduction of the airport and regular flights from Chiang Mai to Pai you can expect more weekend travellers.

Then you haven't seen the so called Pai Airport... going the long and winding road -hmm, those words reminds me vaguely of some old song-or risk landing in a field between the mountains. Think I would prefer to sing along the road. The road is being widened/ repaired between MaeMalai and Pai.