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A PHUKET expat on a long-term visa has been arrested by Phuket Immigration police over drug-trafficking accusations in Taiwan.
Wu Jung-Mu, 50, appeared at a media presentation at Phuket Immigration in Phuket City today, where details of the case were explained by Phuket Immigration police chief Colonel Panuwat Ruamrak.
Colonel Panuwat said Phuket's new Transnational Crime Arrest Warrant Information Centre had a blacklist of more than 3000 names of people who were wanted around the globe and in Thailand.
Four cases involving Interpol had been solved this year on Phuket involving a South Korean woman wanted for extortion, a German man on property fraud, a US father who absconded with a five-year-old, and now Mr Wu.
The case against Mr Wu dates back to Christmas in 2002 when he allegedly paid 600,000 yuan to have a substantial quantity of illegal methamphetamines taken by boat from Taiwan to China.
On December 25, the drug courier was arrested in Taiwan waters and later jailed for eight years. Learning of the arrest, Mr Wu allegedly flew to Bangkok on December 28.
His movements since then were unclear until he arrived back in Bangkok on October 27 last year, carrying a non-B that expired on January 24 this year. On January 11, he was granted an application for a one-year retirement visa.
Three weeks ago, Colonel Panuwat said, the Ambassador for Thailand sent a document to Immigration asking whether Thai police knew the whereabouts of Mr Wu.
The address Mr Wu had given in Phuket City was empty when police checked. Colonel Panuwat said a search of lists of occupants at Phuket's resorts and apartments uncovered Mr Wu. He was living at a hotel in Laung Por Road in Phuket City.
Police arrested him on August 10. He will be sent to the Immigration Detention Centre in Bangkok to await extradition back to Taiwan.
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Wow... so many naughty foreigners hiding out here! The police must be super busy. Sad that even four cases involving Interpol SOLVED does not qualify for additional police officers here.
Any details on these?:
South Korean woman wanted for extortion, a German man on property fraud, a US father who absconded with a five-year-old?
Yes with all the craziness I know Phuket Wan must be busy too!
Posted by Vfaye on August 18, 2010 18:44
Editor Comment:
We've reported on each of the other three cases and the links are below the article. Phuket definitely needs Things to Do during the monsoon season - otherwise expats will fill in the time, as you say, with craziness.