Pattaya – Police raided a luxury home near Pattaya on Monday afternoon, uncovering what authorities describe as a secret homemade factory used by a Chinese syndicate to manufacture drug-laced e-cigarette pods, locally known as “pot K, or zombie pods”, arresting three Chinese nationals.
At approximately 4:30 p.m. on May 11th, 2026, officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (B.E.P.), supported by Chonburi Provincial Police, stormed the two-storey single house at 10/44 Moo 8. The operation followed intelligence that a Chinese group was illegally producing and distributing narcotic-filled vape cartridges.
Initial inspection revealed the residence, spanning roughly 100 square wah (about 400 square meters) and surrounded by a two-meter-high concrete wall topped with electrified barbed wire, had been heavily modified into a production facility. The second floor had been partitioned into laboratory-style rooms containing multiple chemical synthesis stations, pressing machines for vape pods, and a significant stockpile of raw chemicals and storage tanks.
Officers were visibly shocked by the scale of the setup inside the otherwise unassuming home. Forensic specialists from Police Forensic Division 2 (P.T.H.) have been called in to analyze the chemicals and equipment.
Three Chinese nationals were detained at the scene and are being held for further questioning as authorities seek to expand the investigation.
Local residents expressed surprise at the discovery. Neighbors told reporters they had long believed the house was unoccupied because the lights were always off and no one was ever seen entering or leaving. Many initially feared a violent incident when they saw a large police presence, only to learn the property had been converted into a drug manufacturing site.
Authorities noted that the production equipment and chemicals seized appear identical to items confiscated during a previous raid in mid-February 2026 at a house in the Nong Pla Lai area by Bang Lamung Police. Investigators are now examining whether the two operations are linked as part of the same network.
The raid shows ongoing efforts by Thai police to dismantle sophisticated foreign-operated drug production rings that exploit residential properties in tourist-heavy provinces like Chonburi. Further charges and arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
