Phuket –
Immigration Police in Phuket, working in close coordination with South Korean authorities, dismantled a drug trafficking ring operated by four South Korean nationals who had been hiding in a luxury housing estate on the island. The operation resulted in multiple arrests, visa revocations, and the seizure of narcotics and high-value assets.
The crackdown followed a request from South Korean police, relayed through the Foreign Affairs Division of the Royal Thai Police, to apprehend suspects involved in smuggling narcotics from Thailand to South Korea. The suspects had fled to Phuket, where two of them had overstayed their visas by more than 700 days.
Under the directive of Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanumas Boonyalak, Commissioner of Immigration Bureau, and senior officers Pol. Maj. Gen. Phannana Nuchanart and Pol. Maj. Gen. Natthakorn Praphayon, investigators conducted surveillance and secured a search warrant from Phuket Provincial Court.
On March 19th, a joint task force led by Pol. Lt. Col. Wisarut Ladiang-ong, Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, raided the suspects’ residence in Koh Kaew, Muang District. The team included officers from Immigration Division 6, Provincial Police Region 8, the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board, and Phuket City Police.
The four suspects were identified as:
- Mr. Sim, 43 – Charged with possession and use of ketamine and methamphetamine; tourist visa revoked.
- Mr. Lee, 32 – Charged with methamphetamine use; tourist visa revoked.
- Mr. Kim, 31 – Charged with possession of ketamine and methamphetamine, drug use, and overstaying his visa by 733 days.
- Mr. Seo, 31 – Charged with possession and use of methamphetamine, and overstaying his visa by 733 days.
Authorities confiscated:
- 300 grams of ketamine
- 100 grams of crystal methamphetamine (“ice”)
- Syringes and drug paraphernalia
- Six mobile phones
- Two computers (laptop and CPU)
- Six luxury watches and branded bags
- Two credit cards
Officials explained that the arrests align with the Immigration Bureau’s policy to root out foreign nationals who exploit Thailand as a base for transnational crime. The suspects, who entered the country on tourist visas, were found to be involved in drug trafficking rather than legitimate tourism.
All detainees, along with the seized evidence, were handed over to investigators for prosecution under Thai law, with deportation proceedings to follow.
