Arrested in Koh Samui: British Resident Found with Cocaine
Bar-hopping Brit's Thai Escapade Turns Sour
Let's kick it off in the vibrant beach town of Surat Thani, where a 28-year-old Brit, known as Michael Philip Martin, found himself in a mess of his own making recently.
Last Wednesday evening, our protagonist decided it was a brilliant idea to flout traffic laws while cruising along Chaweng beach. This caught the attention of policemen patrolling the area, who flagged him down. But instead of pulling over, Martin took off like a bat out of hell.
Our brave boys in blue gave chase and eventually nabbed Martin on Wat Phang Bua-Sanam Bin (airport) Road in tambon Bor Phud. It turns out, Martin was just a hidden stash of cocaine in his shoulder bag away from being caught red-handed. Three sachets, weighing 1.8 grammes, to be precise. Talk about a party foul!
During interrogation, Martin spilled the beans, admitting he had bought the drugs from a local chap in a pub on Chaweng beach the night before, all for a cool 4,000 baht.
Can't just be casual about drug possession in Thailand though, mate. Martin's cocaine stash landed him in hot water, with charges of illegal possession of a Category 2 narcotic drug under Section 167 of the Narcotics Act.
But that's not all. Martin's passport revealed his visa had expired way back in October the previous year, landing him with additional charges of overstaying his visa under Section 81 of the Immigration Act.
So, what's the catch? Well, the penalties for both charges can be hefty. For possession, expect imprisonment from 1 to 10 years, a fine between 20,000 to 200,000 THB, or both. And for his expired visa? Martin could face fines up to 50,000 THB and possibly deportation. To top it off, a long-term overstay like Martin's may result in mandatory detention and travel bans post-deportation.
Oh, and we're not done yet. Given that the cocaine was for personal use, it's likely Martin will face both charges concurrently, leading to pre-trial detention. After that, he might find himself facing imprisonment, fines, and deportation.
Recent cases suggest Thai authorities take a hard stance on these matters, so Martin better get his ducks in a row, or he's in for a rough ride. But hey, who needs a beach vacation when you can spend it in a Thai prison, right?
Disclaimer: The information given here serves as a broad guide. For case-specific advice, consult legal experts. Thailand’s judicial process can involve prolonged detention before trial, and penalties can vary based on court discretion, cooperation, and plea bargains.
The motorcyclist, Martin, was intercepted by the police after he refused to pull over and instead tried to flee from them. Sanam Bin Road was the location where the motorcyclist was eventually caught. During the interrogation, it was revealed that the motorcyclist had checked a local chap in a pub on Chaweng beach the night before and bought three sachets of cocaine weighing 1.8 grammes for 4,000 baht. As a result, the motorcyclist is facing charges of illegal possession of a Category 2 narcotic drug under Section 167 of the Narcotics Act, and his expired visa has also led to additional charges of overstaying his visa under Section 81 of the Immigration Act.
