TWO TIME-SHARE salespeople - a British man and a German - have been arrested by Phuket police in a drug sales ''sting'' using an expat tourist as the buyer bait, officers said today.
But the Briton and the German - and a third man arrested in the ''sting'' - all now plead their innocence and blame a fourth man who escaped when police closed the net on Saturday night.
Patong time share workers Marcus Simon Parker, 45, and Miki Maksim Klasnovic, 31, are being held pending further investigation.
Parker was living with his Thai wife at Chanakarn Village, opposite Surakul Stadium in Phuket City, while Klasanovic had a place at Baan Pasak in Pa Klok, east Phuket.
The expat tourist tipped off police about the activities of the alleged drug gang and agreed to take part in the ''sting,'' police said.
At 11pm on Saturday, having placed a request for four grams of ya ice methamphetamine at 6000 baht a gram, the informer met Mr Parker and Mr Klasanovic opposite the PTT petrol station in Chao Fa West Road.
The pair, on separate motorcycles, then crossed the road to the PTT station, where two men were waiting in a Toyota Vios, and where, police say, the informer paid 24,000 baht and obtained the ya ice.
When police closed in they apprehended Mr Parker, Mr Klasanovic and Sommart Waree, 29, who comes from Mai Khao.
But a fourth man, Cherdchai Chonkade, 33, from Phang Nga, escaped on foot. Police remain keen to talk to him.
A total of 11.3 grams of ya ice was found in the vehicle, with drug-taking apparatus, a set of scales and a number of small plastic bags.
Officers have impounded a Honda Wave, a Kawasaki big bike, and a Toyota Vios.
Phuket Police Probe Japan Dive Tourist's DeathBut the Briton and the German - and a third man arrested in the ''sting'' - all now plead their innocence and blame a fourth man who escaped when police closed the net on Saturday night.
Patong time share workers Marcus Simon Parker, 45, and Miki Maksim Klasnovic, 31, are being held pending further investigation.
Parker was living with his Thai wife at Chanakarn Village, opposite Surakul Stadium in Phuket City, while Klasanovic had a place at Baan Pasak in Pa Klok, east Phuket.
The expat tourist tipped off police about the activities of the alleged drug gang and agreed to take part in the ''sting,'' police said.
At 11pm on Saturday, having placed a request for four grams of ya ice methamphetamine at 6000 baht a gram, the informer met Mr Parker and Mr Klasanovic opposite the PTT petrol station in Chao Fa West Road.
The pair, on separate motorcycles, then crossed the road to the PTT station, where two men were waiting in a Toyota Vios, and where, police say, the informer paid 24,000 baht and obtained the ya ice.
When police closed in they apprehended Mr Parker, Mr Klasanovic and Sommart Waree, 29, who comes from Mai Khao.
But a fourth man, Cherdchai Chonkade, 33, from Phang Nga, escaped on foot. Police remain keen to talk to him.
A total of 11.3 grams of ya ice was found in the vehicle, with drug-taking apparatus, a set of scales and a number of small plastic bags.
Officers have impounded a Honda Wave, a Kawasaki big bike, and a Toyota Vios.
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It never seizes to amaze me how incredibly stupid some people can be.
If you are hellbent on being a drug dealer, Thailand is one of the last places to do that.
Very low profit margins, harsh punishments and inhumane prison conditions.
I guess they consume too much of their own product.
Glad to hear if some are caught and kudos to any foreigner who helps to turned them in.
I wish more people would do that.
Posted by Chris on May 3, 2011 21:22