The Royal Thai Prison Department has clarified that a South Korean drug suspect accused of trafficking was not held in a Thai prison when he conducted a live-streamed video from a prison vehicle. The department confirmed that the Pattaya Special Prison has never received this individual and the footage of the cell shown during the live stream was not from a prison facility. They emphasized that mobile phones are prohibited items, and anyone caught bringing them into a prison would face disciplinary action.
On October 16, 2024, the department issued a statement regarding the claims made by the 44-year-old South Korean suspect, who had been apprehended for drug trafficking and live-streamed the event from a vehicle while detained at an unspecified location. According to Maeil Business Newspaper, the suspect was detained by the Anti-Drug Agency in collaboration with the Immigration Bureau in a hotel in Bang Lamung, Chonburi, on October 3, 2024.
The arrest followed the suspect’s involvement in supplying drugs (Ice) from Thailand to South Korea, linked to a December 2024 case where South Korean authorities seized a suspicious parcel containing 38.46 grams of the drug hidden in coffee and nut bags. Investigations confirmed the suspect had fled to Thailand, leading to his apprehension on October 3, 2024, and subsequent checks revealed he had overstayed his visa.
To clarify this situation, the Royal Thai Prison Department urgently checked the facts, confirming through the Pattaya Special Prison that they had never received the suspect. Additionally, a search in the prison database revealed no record of him. It was reiterated that mobile phones are banned in prisons, and anyone found in violation will be subject to penalties as per prison regulations.
This article was rewritten from a Thairath’s news article.
