Operatives conducted a raid in the area of nightclubs and detained a trafficker. The objectives were to combat drug trafficking and protect the image of the resort.
Control purchase and large-scale search
Plainclothes counterintelligence officers went for a stroll down Volkin Street and purchased a balloon filled with "laughing gas" from a street vendor. Then, after obtaining a search warrant, they raided the address of his store.
Nearly 300 containers of nitrous oxide were on the premises, along with hundreds of empty balloons and equipment for inflating them. Prakrit Thamuk, 32, admitted offering such unusual goods to passers-by and had already earned tens of thousands of baht.
He claims he was unaware of the legalities and simply decided to set up a "profitable business" after seeing the popularity of gas-filled balloons among tourists.
Medical risks and criminal penalties
Having inhaled "laughing gas", vacationers experience euphoria and laughter. However, nitrous oxide is dangerous: headaches, nausea and even irreversible changes in the brain are possible.
Local doctors reminded that this product belongs to the category of "psychoactive substances". According to the drug law, its sale is punishable by up to 5 years in prison and a huge monetary penalty.
Pattaya police are waging an implacable war against the distributors of illegal drugs to avoid reputational losses. The licenses of all stores in the main evening entertainment center have been checked. So far there have been no other violations, but controls will continue.
Citizens are encouraged to report any suspicious vendors. The goal is to make Pattaya a truly welcoming place where tourists are guaranteed a safe vacation.
Author of the article: Ekaterina Antonova
