NO COCAINE for Christmas. Police warned today that they will be checking after-hours parties from tonight on, looking for drugs.

Phuket Police Commander Apirak Hongtong told Phuketwan that during the holiday season there was ''a lot of cocaine use'' among foreigners.

His comment came as a British man was lined up with other alleged criminals in a presentation for media outside the Phuket Police Station in Phuket City today.

Steven Peter Hipwell, 32, was arrested by Cherng Talay Police on December 22 at 4.30 pm allegedly in possession of two bags of cocaine totaling 0.6 and 0.7 grams.

His arrest came in a sting operation involving another Englishman ,who had been arrested on drug charges by police in Patong days earlier.

Police alleged that David Pet had been caught with cocaine on Nanai Road, and while being held he told police that Hipwell had sold him the drugs.

Police then arranged a sting and raid on Hipwell's house, where David ''bought'' the cocaine while police waited outside.

Police searched Hipwell's home. Officers said they found another small packet of cocaine in a money jar.

Hipwell is being held in Phuket jail while the court considers bail.

Both Pet and Hipwell were living and working in Phuket, police say.