THALANG: Provincial Drug Suppression Police seized 6,800 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills and arrested two men in a sting operation on November 23.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Decha Budnampeth said an investigation had revealed that Chatree “ Mee” Waiyawut, 26, was dealing ya bah in Phuket.

“Undercover officers contacted Chatree, ordering 300 ya bah pills for 45,000 baht. Delivery was arranged and at ‘drop’ Songcherd “Cherd” Krodsimai, 28, arrived with the drugs.

“After his arrest, Cherd told officers that he was to be paid 3,000 baht for making the delivery,” Gen Decha said.

Cherd told police that he was a delivering the drugs for Chatree and led the officers to Chatree’s house in Tambon Thepkrasattri.

Police searched the house, finding seven sealed bags containing a total of 6,500 ya bah pills. Two mobile phones were also seized as evidence, Gen Decha said.

Chatree was arrested and confessed that the drugs were his, saying he had bought 10,000 ya bah pills from a Thai man in Samut Prakarn, Gen Decha said.

The total haul had a street value of about 2 million baht, he added.

On April 28, 2005, Chatree was convicted of drug possession and sentenced to 12 years in prison. At the time of his arrest he was out on bail awaiting an Appeals Court decision.

Chatree told police that intended to use the money gained from his latest drug transaction to fight his previous conviction, Gen Decha explained.

Both suspects have been charged with drug possession with intent to supply.

phuket gazette