Tourist and anti-narcotics police arrested an Israeli food shop owner on Pha-ngan Island in Surat Thani province today and seized drugs in his possession with a street value of about 50 million baht, including heroin, cocaine, Ecstasy and magic mushrooms.
A police officer involved in the arrest said that the Israeli opened a food shop on the popular island, but used it as a front for the distribution of illegal narcotics, predominantly to foreign tourists visiting or staying on the island.
The police devised a plot to ensnare the alleged drug dealer by pretending to be a potential customer and contacting him via the WhatsApp platform.
The officer said that the Israeli did not normally meet his customers or potential customers in person. He would put the drugs into a sock, which would then be placed at a designated dead drop for collection by the buyer. Then the buyer would place the cash payment in the same sock and leave it in the same location.
The buyer was required to record the payment with his smartphone and send it via a messaging app to the dealer as confirmation of payment. The dealer would then show up at the dead drop to collect the sock and cash.
After the deal went through, police raided the food shop at Hin Kong Beach. They found two heavy pieces of luggage in which a variety of illegal narcotic was found.
The Israeli suspect was taken to the district police station for further questioning. He has initially been charged with the possession of and trafficking in controlled narcotics.
Pha-ngan Island is popular among foreign backpackers, especially during the Full Moon period when tens of thousands converge on the beaches for wild celebrations, free music and all-night drinking.
