Russian man arrested in Phuket after police seize 23 bags of crystal meth
Kathu police arrested a 37-year-old Russian man after allegedly finding two bags of crystal methamphetamine near him and 21 more inside his rented home in Phuket.
Police in Phuket arrested a 37-year-old Russian man on 2 November after allegedly finding 23 bags of crystal methamphetamine during a roadside stop and a search of his rented home.
Kathu police said officers approached the man, identified as Alexey, near the road leading to Khao Lim San at about 2pm after noticing suspicious behaviour. Police said he threw an object away as they approached and that officers found two black-tape-wrapped bags containing a combined 2.13 grammes of crystal methamphetamine beside him.
Alexey partially denied the allegation, saying the bags did not belong to him, according to police. He told officers he was renting a house in Wichit subdistrict, Mueang Phuket district, which they then searched.
Police reported finding 21 more bags of crystal methamphetamine weighing 91.08 grammes in the kitchen. An agreement naming Alexey as the tenant was also found, bringing the reported total seizure to 23 bags weighing 93.21 grammes.
At Kathu Police Station, a urine test returned positive for drugs, police said. Officers also reported finding information about drug transactions on his mobile phone.
Police charged Alexey with possessing a Category 1 narcotic with intent to sell for commercial purposes and using methamphetamine. He was handed over to investigators with the seized evidence for further legal proceedings.
