Drugs Raid: Soi Nern Plubwhan..............

[libya 115]

SOURCE: Pattaya Daily News: February 16th 2007

POLICE RAID NETS YAH E AND YAH ICE DEALER IN CHONBURI

The police raided a home in the early morning in Chonburi and discovered numerous drugs: yah E(Ecstasy), yah Ice (crack cocaine) and devices to take Ice.

The police raiding party of 10 persons, led by Police Genearal Ittipon Piriyapinyo,and Police Lieutenant General Sutat Phumpanmuang of the Chonburi Constabulary raided a house at 1.30 am on February 15th with a search warrant from Pattaya District Court. The house was located at 57/172 Ratanahkon Vilage, Soi Nern Plubwahn. The house had been under surveillance for some time as it was frequented by members of the younger generation, mostly under 18, and was used to deal drugs from.

Before entering the house, the police noticed a blue BMW 325 I, parked in front of the suspect’s house and decided to investigate. In the car, the police found four people, 3 male and 1 female, taking yah Ice. The names of the car occupants were Mr Supoj Winophan aged 42, Mr Sriphum Chalemlam, aged 35, Mr Akechai Sopaphun, aged 19, and Miss Luluna Singhawicharn, aged 17. The group was searched and the police found approximately 1.18 grams of powdered White Ice.

The house under surveillance is rented by Mr Supoj Winophan, (pictured wearing a black T shirt), a border police officer. He told the Chonburi police that he and his friends used the house to have drug parties. He didn’t actually own the house, but had rented it for a long time. Apart from drugs, the police found many sex CDs in the house. All the suspects, including Mr Supoj, were given a urine test and tested positive for drugs.

The police said that they had long suspected Mr Supoj of dealing drugs at parties, discos and other places of entertainment. After the entertainment, Mr Supoj had been known to take people back to his house for sex and drugs parties. The case will be processed at Banglamung Ploive Station and Mr Supoj will be reported to his immediate superior and will be charged with dealing and using illegal, class 1 drugs.

[Robski]

The house under surveillance is rented by Mr Supoj Winophan,

a border police officer.

Mr Supoj will be reported to his immediate superior

and will be charged with dealing and using illegal, class 1 drugs.

I would definately like to see the outcome of this.

BTW Ice is amphetamine not cocaine.

[libya 115]

More information in this news clipping:

SOURCE: Pattaya City News: February 15th 2007

Police Officer arrested as Undercover Officers crack local drug dealing ring.

A press conference now from Banglamung Police Station who arrested four individuals who had been tracked for some time, and are accused of organizing a major drug dealing ring here in Pattaya.

Police went to the Rattanagorn Village 3 in Naklua and caught all four suspects ingesting Crystal Methamphetamine also known as “Ice”. Police searched their rented room and seized a firearm with 13 Bullets, 17,000 Baht in cash thought to be the proceeds of drugs transactions, 3 mobile phones, a 1 Baht-Weighted Gold Necklace along with a quantity of “Ice” and Ecstasy.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Sootat led the operation and confirmed the four suspects, Police Sergeant Major Supot aged 42 who works in Jantabori Province, Khun Seepoom aged 35, Khun Egashai aged 19 and a 17 year old woman, had been wanted for some time.

A Black BMW which displayed a Police Badge, was also seized as evidence. The four were also urine tested and each suspect failed the test, confirming the presence of Met-Amphetamine in their bodies. They will all be facing serious class 1 drugs charges and are now on remand awaiting a court appearance.

[Robski]

They will all be facing serious class 1 drugs charges and are now on remand awaiting a court appearance.

Good work and lets hope they get proper convictions.

There was a story a while ago where some small time dealers were busted and a few people made a hoohaa that it wouldn't make a difference, this shows that the police are making a real effort and not being choosy about who they target, hopefully they can gain further intelligence from this.

[bkkmadness]

I wouldn't become to confident Robski, they only got a gram of Ice and I guess a few pills didn't they? Let's see how strong the convictions are once some cash has changed hands.

[Robski]

I wouldn't become to confident Robski, they only got a gram of Ice and I guess a few pills didn't they? Let's see how strong the convictions are once some cash has changed hands.

I'm far from confident and I would like to see the outcome of this even though it may take some time.

I agree it is a very small amount of drugs, but most significant is the arrest of Police Sergeant Major Supot.

[raro]

I'm much more concerned about the gun and the bullets than the 1.18 g of Meth. Give me a break...is that newsworthy?

[JacknDanny]

I wouldn't become to confident Robski, they only got a gram of Ice and I guess a few pills didn't they? Let's see how strong the convictions are once some cash has changed hands.

I'm far from confident and I would like to see the outcome of this even though it may take some time.

I agree it is a very small amount of drugs, but most significant is the arrest of Police Sergeant Major Supot.

A bust is a bust, but it amazes me over here how they do things a#s about face.

In the original article it states that the house has been under observation for a while and that it was a known place where drugs were supplied.

In the Uk if that were the case the the house would be put under observation, and on the day the raid would take place EVERY visitor leaving the house would be arrested. Normally that would be several in 1 hour or so. They would have the illegal substances on their person. Then the house itself would be raided and the persons inside also arrested.

That way it would be easy to prove the 'intent to supply' and it would almost certainly guarantee a sizeable haul of drugs.

It appears to me that they raided the house at the wrong time, subsequently only managed to find a small quantity, which could be argued away as simple possession.

[jasreeve17]

Isn't what they've done called bad policing, JnD?

Though I'm very happy to see the arrest of an official, that's really the type of thing the country (not least the junta) needs right now. Let's hope it's the start of a trend - now I am being naive!

[JacknDanny]

Isn't what they've done called bad policing, JnD?

I dont know the full facts, but if it was a well known suppliers haven, then I would have thought there would have been more people arrested and more drugs found!!

It seems to me the timing of the raid could have been better

[jasreeve17]

Isn't what they've done called bad policing, JnD?

I dont know the full facts, but if it was a well known suppliers haven, then I would have thought there would have been more people arrested and more drugs found!!

It seems to me the timing of the raid could have been better

In the UK they have police training schools, Hendon for the met police, for example. Cadets spend three months learning basic policing skills. Do you know if they have a similar system here?

I ask, because your comments seem very logical. A trained group of officers, would use surveillence to get as much information and criminal arrests as possible, I presume. It doesn't seem too complex an idea. Although I also read that four suspicous characters in a car were targeted. Maybe this was just good "on the spot" policing?

Either way, it'd be great to see a conviction of an official, with a longer than average sentence to take into account their abuse of authority.

Edited February 18, 2007 by jasreeve17

[JacknDanny]

Isn't what they've done called bad policing, JnD?

I dont know the full facts, but if it was a well known suppliers haven, then I would have thought there would have been more people arrested and more drugs found!!

It seems to me the timing of the raid could have been better

In the UK they have police training schools, Hendon for the met police, for example. Cadets spend three months learning basic policing skills. Do you know if they have a similar system here?

I ask, because your comments seem very logical. A trained group of officers, would use surveillence to get as much information and criminal arrests as possible, I presume. It doesn't seem too complex an idea. Although I also read that four suspicous characters in a car were targeted. Maybe this was just good "on the spot" policing?

Either way, it'd be great to see a conviction of an official, with a longer than average sentence to take into account their abuse of authority.

Not only do they have 'initiation' 3 months police training, but there is intensive training(or at least there used to be) for the first 2 years. Then there was further specialist training for example Drugs Squad officers ( drugs courses/surveillance courses etc etc)

As far as I am aware there is nothing to that extent over here.

Was it good on the spot policing?

Well the article did say that the house had been under observation for some time. So I would have expected more.

Maybe the presence of the border officer prompted an early arrest?