Crime
International School English Teacher Busted for Marijuana Grow Show Operation in Bangkok
BANGKOK – An 46 year-old American-Thai English teacher has been arrested for growing marijuana in an abandoned building in Bangkok and selling it online.
Police raided the building in Din Daeng area just 400 meters from the Office of National Narcotics Control Board on Friday to find an organic marijuana farm inside.
The raid came after the National Legislative Assembly (NLA) last month passed a new law legalizing limited use of marijuana for medical purposes.
Police said they tracked the farm from a previous drug case leading the raid at the indoor greenhouse equipped with organic farming equipment.
Joseph Sodsaikij told police he studied how to grow marijuana and extract hashish from books, Pol General Chalermkiat Sriworakhan, deputy police chief, said.
The 46-year-old American-Thai imported seeds from abroad to grow 300-400 marijuana plants at a time. After harvesting, he then processed it into marijuana products for distribution online, he said.
Pol General Chalermkiat said police interrogated members of a marijuana-dealing gang last July to identify and locate Joseph Sodsaikij, an English language teacher at an international school. Sodsaikij’s alleged operation has been up and running for two to three years.
Police believed the man also operated or involved with other marijuana farms.