A POLICE raid on a luxury villa at Koh Phangan led to the arrest of three Israeli nationals after drugs were found there with their Israeli supplier apprehended at another residence on this tourist island, Naewna newspaper said this morning (Jan. 12).
Lt. Col. Thanapon Saetang, deputy district chief for security affairs, Koh Phangan Immigration Police, and Pol. Lt. Col. Duangthepparat Sitthirith, Immigration Police inspector, Surat Thani province, led a team of police officers to raid the villa after a tip-off by a concerned resident about a noisy party being held there with foreigners suspiciously entering and leaving day and night.
Upon reaching the villa gate the police team found it open with loud music blaring from within. Mr. Sean Shahar, 33, (name translated as written in Thai), was in front of the villa and upon seeing the officers acted suspiciously, attempting to dash inside. He was ordered to stop and a search found white power scattered on a table.
They also found two Israeli women within the villa, Ms. Michelle Sessions, 24, and Ms. Jennifer Liewchit, 23, along with 3.32 grammes of cocaine, 28.99 grammes of Ketamine, 0.86 grammes of MDMA (Ecstasy), and 29 e-cigarettes.
Upon being questioned all three implicated Mr. Rejev Rachmani, 48, an Israeli national, as their supplier, having purchased the drugs from him at 4,500 baht per gramme via WhatsApp. They intended to resell the drugs to Israeli tourists at parties on Koh Phangan.
Police then searched Rachmani’s residence on the island and found a lot more drugs including 33.36 grammes of cocaine, 16.07 grammes of Ketamine, 23 ecstasy pills packed in separate bags weighing 10.39 grammes, and 79,000 baht in cash.
The first three suspects were charged with “jointly possessing Category 1 and 2 narcotics with intent to sell, jointly possessing psychotropic substances with intent to sell, drug use, and possession of smuggled goods (e-cigarettes).” Rachmani was slapped with more seriously charges of “selling and possessing Category 1 narcotics (ecstasy, LSD stamps) and Category 2 narcotics (cocaine, Ketamine) for sale and drug use.” All four suspects were then taken to Koh Phangan police station for legal proceedings and deportation.
This multi-agency raid on an overnight party and arrest of the four suspects on drug charges led to the discovery of a never-before-seen packaging being used: plastic resealable bags with an image of a gun. This is linked to an Israeli network with the drugs specifically sold to Israeli tourists.
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Top and Front Page – Police raiding a luxury villa on Koh Phangan where three Israel drug suspects were rounded up. Photos – Naewna
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