A South Korean national, allegedly involved in drug trafficking, was arrested in Pattaya for visa overstay and running an international drug trafficking operation using Thailand as a base.
Pol. Col. Napatsapong Khosittasuriya, the head of Chonburi Immigration, announced the arrest of 40-year-old Mr. Jin Tae Choi. He was apprehended at a restaurant on Pattaya Third Road in Chonburi province after being listed on an Interpol red notice.
According to Pol. Col. Napatsapong, Mr. Choi had been involved in an international drug trafficking ring that operated out of Thailand. The operation had been carried out five times before South Korean authorities disrupted it by arresting Mr. Choi’s accomplices at Incheon Airport with 600 grams of ketamine.
Investigations revealed that Mr. Choi had been coordinating and supplying drugs to the trafficking network while based in Thailand. The South Korean Anti-Drug Authority, with support from Interpol, informed Chonburi Immigration that Mr. Choi was hiding in Pattaya. He was found at a restaurant on Pattaya Third Road and was also confirmed to be overstaying his visa.
During interrogation, Mr. Choi reportedly admitted to purchasing the drugs from a Thai national known as Mr. Freeo, who is now deceased, before sending them to traffickers who smuggled the drugs into South Korea.
Mr. Choi is currently detained in Chonburi on charges of overstaying his visa and will be extradited to South Korea to face drug-related charges. He will also be blacklisted and banned from re-entering Thailand.
creditTPN
