Phuket –
Police in Phuket arrested a Kazakh national during a New Year’s Eve checkpoint in Karon after discovering cocaine hidden in his underwear and dozens of QR code stickers intended to promote drug sales in tourist areas.
The Karon Police told the Phuket Express that the arrest took place in front of a hotel in Karon when officers stopped a motorcycle taxi carrying the suspect, identified only as Mr. Kartashev, 33. He was traveling from Patong to Karon and reportedly displayed suspicious behavior, prompting officers to conduct a search.
Authorities found 1.10 grams of cocaine concealed in his underwear, along with 60 promotional QR code stickers labeled “KOKC MEF”, a mobile phone, and a black shoulder bag.
During questioning, Mr. Kartashev admitted the drugs and stickers were his. He told investigators that he had obtained them through a Russian job-seeking group on WhatsApp.
According to his statement, members of the group left packages containing cocaine and stickers along Patong’s streets, providing GPS coordinates for pickup. He was allegedly paid 500 baht for each assignment.
The suspect further confessed that the QR code stickers were designed to link potential buyers to online drug networks. He intended to paste them on lamp posts and public spaces in major tourist hotspots, targeting foreign visitors during the holiday season.
Police charged him with illegal possession of a Category 2 narcotic (cocaine) and transferred him to Karon Police Station for further investigation and prosecution.
