Police raid Taiwanese gang 'selling party drugs in bars in Bangkok'

Police arrested alleged gangsters reportedly distributing party drugs to bars in Bangkok, Thailand.

The Metropolitan Police detained the suspects - Three Taiwanese men and a female Thai teenager - at a condominium in a luxury housing estate in the capital on October 5.

The raid came following tip-offs about foreigners reportedly gathering in the city's Minburi and Rom Klao areas to party and consume drugs.

Police Major General Kiatikul Sonthinen, commander of the Metropolitan Police Division 3, named the suspects as Tsai Yi-han, 35, Hsieh Teng-wei, 27, Wang Kai-ti, 41, and Thai woman Achisa, 19.

He said in an October 8 press conference: 'From the investigation, it was found that this drug gang brought drugs from a neighboring country in the north and stored them to sell to party customers - both Thai and foreign - in Bangkok.

'However, due to the large amount of evidence found, it was necessary to expand the investigation to see if the drugs were also being exported to Taiwan or a third country. Ketamine is popular among drug users abroad and it would be worth a lot if it were sold overseas.'

The suspects reportedly tried to escape from police during the raid. One man allegedly jumped from the upper floor of the condo to flee, but was caught by police.

Cops said they seized 'a large quantity' of drugs, including 276 bags of ketamine weighing 2lbs each, 18 bags of Happy Water - which is a combination of ecstasy, methamphetamine, diazepam, caffeine, and tramadol dissolved in liquid, packs of crystal meth, meth and ketamine pills, ketamine grinders, and packaging to disguise the hard drugs as fruit tea or cartoon-themed powdered drinks.

Authorities linked Tsai to an international drug syndicate led by a Taiwanese boss. He was reportedly a hedonist who enjoyed partying and using drugs. His Thai girlfriend Achisa served as an alleged drug courier. She was said to have picked up ketamine and Happy Water using rental cars and a Toyota Alphard seized at the condominium.

While Hsieh and Wang were tasked with repackaging and distributing the drugs to customers in entertainment venues.

Police said the suspects will be charged with 'jointly distributing Category 1 narcotics (methamphetamine or ice and Happy Water) for sale', 'jointly distributing Category 2 narcotics (ketamine) for sale' and 'jointly possessing Category 1 narcotics'.

According to Thai law, carrying Category I drugs, including LSD and ecstasy, for 'disposal or possession for the purpose of disposal', has a maximum punishment of the death sentence or life in prison. The most severe punishments are reserved for those who 'produce of import' the substances, while simply possessing the drugs can land offenders in jail for up to 10 years.

Dealing the lesser Category 2 drugs, which include cocaine and ketamine, can carry a life sentence while possession alone has a punishment of five years.