KOH PHANGAN – Tourist Police arrested a 41-year-old Russian national, identified as Mr. Anton, after finding multiple illegal drugs believed to be prepared for sale to tourists.
The operation followed a policy push led by Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Pueak-am, commander of the Tourist Police Bureau, which focuses on cracking down on foreign behavior that harms Thailand’s tourism image.
Police said the case began after an informant reported a foreign man living near the “Bo Khaya” area (the garbage dump alley) in Koh Phangan, Surat Thani. According to the tip, the suspect allegedly sold several types of drugs to tourists and used a red sedan with Phuket plates to move around the island.
After receiving the report, officers planned surveillance and tracked the vehicle. Soon after, they saw the red car leave the alley at high speed. The car reportedly swerved in a way that suggested impaired driving, so officers followed it to Hua Thian Pier in Moo 1, Ban Tai Subdistrict.
At the pier, police identified the driver as Mr. Anton, a Russian citizen. Officers reported that he admitted he had used cocaine before leaving home. Police then took him into custody and searched his residence, described as a house with no address in the same alley mentioned in the tip.
Drugs Found at the Home
During the search, police said they found drugs allegedly set aside for distribution, including:
- Cocaine: 109.06 grams and 6.63 grams
- Ketamine: 1.67 grams and 9.70 grams
- MDMA (ecstasy) in crystal form: 4.42 grams
- MDMA tablets: 5 pills
Tourist Police Say DJ Work Helped Him Reach Tourists
During questioning, police said Mr. Anton confessed he worked as a DJ at entertainment venues on Koh Phangan. Investigators believe he used that role to connect with tourists and sell drugs within party circles.
He also described a purchase method that police called unusual. According to his statement, he ordered drugs through Telegram. He claimed an automated AI system responded, let him choose the drug type, took payment by credit card, and then sent GPS coordinates. He said he would travel to the location and dig up the drugs that had been buried.
Tourist Police charged the suspect with multiple offenses, including selling Category 2 narcotics (cocaine) and Category 1 narcotics (MDMA) for commercial distribution, selling a Category 2 psychotropic substance (ketamine) for trade, possessing Category 1 narcotics (ecstasy), and using Category 2 narcotics (cocaine).
Police transferred Mr. Anton and the seized items to Koh Phangan Police Station investigators for legal proceedings.
Pol. Lt. Col. Winit Boonchit of Tourist Police said this arrest counts as a major case for Koh Phangan. He added that some foreign suspects have allegedly used jobs like DJ work as a cover while selling drugs to tourists, with meetups arranged at different points around the island.
Authorities said they will continue expanding the investigation, including possible links to an AI-supported cross-border drug network.
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