Phuket man arrested in Phang Nga with guns, ya bah and crystal meth

A Phuket man was arrested in a Phang Nga gun and drug bust in Pa Ko Subdistrict, Mueang Phang Nga District, at about 4pm on Sunday, Apr 26, police said. Investigators from Phang Nga Provincial Police identified the suspect as 44-year-old Pholsan Phinsuwan, a resident of Moo 1, Srisoonthorn, Thalang, and said the case grew out of a wider narcotics investigation.

Police said the operation followed the Mar 10 arrest of another suspect accused of dealing crystal meth. Information from that case led officers to Pholsan, also known as “Aom in Ton,” who was alleged to be part of the same distribution network supplying drugs to users, including teenagers.

Arrest at somtum restaurant after tip-off

Officers tracked Pholsan to a somtum restaurant in Moo 3, Pa Ko, where a Phuket-registered Honda Civic had been parked, police said. He allegedly tried to run when officers approached but was quickly detained.

A search of the car found a 9mm Glock 19 handgun with a loaded magazine, 17 additional rounds of ammunition, a holster, 30 ya bah pills and drug-taking paraphernalia.

House search uncovers shotgun, AK-47 and more drugs

During questioning, police said Pholsan admitted storing more weapons and narcotics at a rented house in Moo 5 in the same subdistrict. Officers escorted him there and seized a Remington 12-gauge pump-action shotgun, an AK-47 rifle with a folding stock, multiple magazines and ammunition, 110 ya bah pills, a small quantity of crystal methamphetamine and more drug paraphernalia.

Police said Pholsan confessed to all charges and told investigators the AK-47 and some of the drugs had come from an associate arrested in the March case. He also claimed the narcotics were given to him as payment for repainting a firearm, and all seized items were taken as evidence before he was brought to Mueang Phang Nga Police Station for legal proceedings.

Source: https://www.thephuketnews.com/phuket-man-held-in-phang-nga-gun-and-drug-bust-100050.php