An Irishman, aged 53, has been arrested in Thailand following the robbery of a cannabis shop. Local authorities have confirmed that he is being held in custody as they continue their investigation into the incident. The arrest of the foreign national has made headlines locally and attracted attention from across the world, renewing debates about drug laws and enforcement in Thailand. In this article, we will explore the details of this case and what it means for the ongoing battle against drug-related crimes.
An Irishman has been arrested in Pattaya, Thailand, under suspicion of being involved in a recent robbery at a cannabis shop. The owner’s Korean co-owner, Namil Kim, was allegedly attacked by two foreign men while working in an office behind the shop at around 11.20pm on 25 March. No weapons were used, but the attackers made off with Kim’s wallet, containing 5,000 baht cash, and a safety box containing 170,000 baht in cash, before fleeing the scene in a car. Following an examination of the shop’s security cameras, police officers have arrested a British and a Korean man for the robbery. Their identities have been listed in the local media as Markus Powell, aged 47 and from England, and 52-year-old Myoung Kyu Lee from Korea.
Police have also reportedly held the Irishman, aged 53, for questioning over the robbery, although they have not found any concrete evidence linking him to the crime. This is not the first incident of violent crime to have recently taken place in the Pattaya area. Last month, Namil Kim was shot in the leg outside a grocery store close to the cannabis shop. The shooter, a customer at the store, has claimed he fired the shots because Kim was being a nuisance while drunk. The victim suffered a gunshot wound to the leg and was taken to hospital for medical treatment.
The Irishman was arrested as part of an operation conducted by Mueng Pattaya Police Station. Powell and Lee were named at the Pattaya Provincial Court for “joint nighttime invasion of another’s property and joint nighttime robbery, using some vehicles to aid the crime”. The owner of the cannabis shop, Parin Parnsing, reported the robbery on 25 March after Kim was attacked in the office behind the shop. Both accused used a vehicle to escape the crime scene.
This is not the only violent crime recently to have taken place in Pattaya. In January, a British national was killed in a road rage incident involving the nephew of a former Pattaya deputy major. The nephew is reported to have shot the motorcyclist, a 71-year-old named Neil Roger, after he honked his horn at him.
Pattaya has long been known for its nightlife, and its impact on local crime rates have been significant. The city has become a hub for the sex trade and drugs trade, which has contributed to rising levels of violence and corruption. A crackdown on criminal activity by Thai authorities in recent years has led to a decline in the number of reported murders in the area, but crimes of theft and violence, as well as drug offenses, continue to be a problem.
Efforts have been made to curb crime and improve safety in Pattaya. These include installing CCTV cameras in public places like bars and nightclubs and increasing the presence of police on the streets. Pattaya authorities have also implemented measures to rid the city of street vendors and reduce the number of nightclubs operating outside of the designated red-light district.
Despite these efforts, Pattaya remains a challenging area to live and work in due to ongoing crime concerns. The recent robbery of the cannabis shop has once again highlighted the need for authorities to do more to keep the streets safe for locals and tourists alike. By continuing to focus on reducing crime and increasing security measures, Thai authorities can help restore the city’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination for visitors to Thailand.
