A British father faces a hellish Thai prison after being arrested for suspected cocaine trafficking, with cops discovering an assortment of illegal substances and drug paraphernalia in his hotel room.
Stephen Mullady, 45, from Ascot, Berkshire, was drinking with friends when police burst into his hotel room on the posh island of Phuket last night, March 18.
Police allegedly found 2.4 grams of the drug as well as three scales and 104 small plastic bags used to separate the powder. Officers say they also seized small amounts of methamphetamine and crystal meth.
Stephen, a father of one, reportedly tested positive for methamphetamine.
In Thailand, a conviction for trafficking cocaine carries a minimum sentence of 20 years and a maximum sentence of life imprisonment, while possession of the other substance can result in a sentence of 10 years in prison.
Mullady’s arrest is the latest in a series of police operations to arrest foreigners for drug trafficking and violence, with immigration authorities now pledging to step up controls.
Stephen Mullady, 45, from Ascot, Berkshire, was drinking with friends when police burst into his hotel room on the posh island of Phuket last night, March 18.
Police allegedly found 2.4 grams of the drug as well as three scales and 104 small plastic bags used to separate the powder.
Mullady’s arrest is the latest in a series of police operations to arrest foreigners on drug trafficking and violence charges.
Police Lt. Col. Kornphon Liangboonjinda, deputy superintendent of Karon District Police Station, said: “Officers received an anonymous complaint that a group of foreigners were causing trouble by regularly partying in a room of the hotel called Just a Puff.
“The police went to check the room and Stephen was shocked and behaved suspiciously.
“When we entered, we found cocaine and methamphetamine in a black bag, as well as three digital weighing machines and his passport in a gray bag.
“In addition, there were 104 small bags for sorting medications on his table. »
Stephen was charged with selling cocaine – a Category 2 prohibited substance which carries a minimum prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life.
Officers also charged Stephen with possession of Class 1 methamphetamine.
Possession carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison, although police believe the quantities found were not sufficient to warrant a trafficking charge.
The policeman added: “Foreigners think it is easy to sell drugs. But it is also easy for us to catch them.
“They should enjoy their vacation without breaking the law.”
Stephen was charged with selling cocaine – a Category 2 prohibited substance which carries a minimum prison sentence of 20 years and a maximum of life.
Mullady is one of several Britons to have been arrested in recent weeks on drug charges.
Police chiefs today said foreigners would face increased surveillance following a series of arrests.
Roy Ingpairoj, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police, said he had asked the immigration commissioner to carry out additional checks on foreigners who appeared to have nefarious motives for visiting the country.
Stephen, who is waiting to appear in court, is the fourth Briton arrested in recent weeks for alleged drug trafficking.
Andrew John Brett, 36, was arrested on the island of Koh Tao on February 29 for allegedly selling ecstasy and LSD to other tourists.
On March 3, Peter Hull, 44, was allegedly arrested in possession of cocaine and ecstasy in his room on the island of Koh Samui.
And Briton Charly Garcia, 48, from London, was arrested on March 12 for allegedly selling cocaine, ecstasy and other narcotics to tourists via the Telegram app in Chiang Mai.