Ah, Pattaya—known for its vibrant nightlife, stunning beaches, and, unfortunately, its darker side, where the seedy underworld lurks. This week, a massive narcotics crackdown spearheaded by Thai police has shaken up the local drug scene, leaving no stone unturned. With dodgy dens, unexpected visitors, and a hasty meth stash, Pattaya’s latest efforts to clean up its drug-infested corners have led to a ripple of shockwaves across the city.
The first operation kicked off on a sunny afternoon, June 16, as District Chief Patcharapat Sritanyanon, accompanied by Wanchat Wannapram, headed a team of eager officials and Bang Lamung’s Territorial Defence Volunteers. Their target was a notorious drug den nestled in Soi Huay Yai Jeen. As officers stormed the rickety two-storey house, chaos ensued. Amidst the pandemonium, some individuals managed to make a run for it, while others weren’t as quick on their feet.
Inside, the cops found Piyapong Sudphun, a 41-year-old homeowner, and his partner in crime, a 23-year-old girlfriend, both allegedly at the helm of the illegal operations. Their bedroom, an alarming tableau of drug paraphernalia, told the story: glass pipes, bongs, and a tantalizing bag of crystal meth strewn across a glass table. In their frenzy, the suspects allegedly tore open the meth bag, scattering its contents like confetti before the sharp-eyed police could fully get their bearings.
Amusingly enough, right as things turned tense, a motorcyclist pulled up outside—perhaps expecting a routine transaction. Instead, he found himself cuffed and facing a harsh reality. By the end of the raid, five individuals found themselves cooling off behind bars, trading their nightlife debauchery for a much less glamorous audience: the Pattaya News reporting team.
The raid wasn’t a one-off show, though. Just a few days earlier, on June 10, undercover teams from Chon Buri Provincial and Pattaya City police made headlines with a daring operation. They effortlessly apprehended two suspected dealers outside a chic condominium on South Pattaya Road. Caught red-handed, Burin “Oat” Pholwiwat and Chatchawan “Boy” Wongthong, allegedly suppliers of class-A escapades to eager party-goers, now faced a night they wouldn’t forget.
The intelligence in these high-stakes arrests doesn’t stop there. Upon uncovering the condominium caper, efficient officers executed two follow-up searches of properties tied to the suspects in the suburb of Samut Prakan. Sleuthing through a flat in Ban Eua Arthorn Mueang Mai Bang Phli and a rented room in Theparak Soi 7, Bang Sao Thong, the dispossessing of ill-begotten gains continued unabated. All operations were keenly orchestrated under the watchful eyes of Police Major General Thawatchai Jindakuansanong and Pol. Col. Chatree Suksiri.
As these engrossing tales of law and order play out, Pattaya’s police have vowed to sustain the pressure, ensuring this charismatic city’s lively charm morphs into safety-first energy. But the public plays a crucial role, too. Locals are urged to step up, become the community’s sentinels by reporting unsavory happenings via the Damrongdhama Centre or the ever-vigilant 24/7 hotline 1567. After all, together, they’re the eyes and ears needed to purge their beloved home from drug-fueled crime.
Through these riveting sagas of dodgy dealings and dramatic police takedowns, Pattaya remains steadfast on its path to become a beacon of safety. Here’s hoping the sunny city sees more serene days ahead, free from the clutches of those pesky drugs. Who knows, maybe the next unscheduled visit won’t be from an unsuspecting buyer but from friends flocking to enjoy the cleaner, more vibrant Pattaya.
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