Pattaya —
A South Korean man previously deported for drug offenses was arrested in Pattaya after illegally re-entering Thailand.
On the evening of September 19th, 2024, Chonburi Immigration arrested Mr. Hun Chon, a 42-year-old South Korean national, at a residence in central Pattaya. Mr. Chon was arrested on suspicions of illegally re-entering Thailand after being banned and deported in 2017 for drug offenses involving methamphetamine and overstaying his visa.
During the search of his residence, officers discovered numerous syringes resembling those used for heroin injections discarded in plastic bags. Upon inspecting Mr. Chon’s passport, no immigration entry or exit stamps for Thailand were found.
According to Pol Lt Col Weerachai Thinkamut, the leader of the operation, authorities had received a tip-off from a concerned citizen that Mr. Chon had been residing in Pattaya for about two weeks. They then began their investigation and uncovered that Mr. Chon was staying at an apartment on Pattaya Third Road. He was eventually arrested.
The foreigner’s passport confirmed that he had illegally crossed into Thailand through Cambodia via Sa Kaeo province. Authorities conducted a urine test, but no drugs were detected in Mr. Chon’s system. He claimed that the drug equipment belonged to a Thai woman who had stayed with him two days prior.
However, Pol Lt Col Weerachai revealed that Mr. Chon was allegedly involved in smuggling drugs to South Korea. He allegedly bought drugs in Thailand to smuggle back to South Korea for Korean buyers. Other suspects arrested in South Korea had testified that they obtained the drugs from Mr. Chon. Therefore, Chonburi Immigration have charged Mr. Chon with illegal entry into the country.
The suspect remains in custody as of press time to await deportation processes.
PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya
PHOTO: TMN Cable TV Pattaya
