Pattaya Cops Raid Thai Herbal â€œMoonshineâ€� Liquor Factory

July 2, 2012

Pattaya police raided an illegal liquor factory and seized 6,000 liters alcohol valued at 700,000 THB. The confiscated herbal booze was to be sold in 100 illegal liquor franchises located in Pattaya, Banglamung and Laem Chabang.

PATTAYA – June 30, 2012 [PDN]; Pol. Col. Supphathee Boonkrong, Deputy Commissioner, Chonburi province, Pol. Col. Pholthit Chaiyaros, Chonburi province and Pol. Col. Somneuk Jankate, Banglamung police station officers raided a house in Rattanakorn village, Nong Preu, Banglamung, Chonburi province after receiving information that the house was used as a factory to produce illegal liquor.

Upon inspection the police found illicit alcohol in 20 liter containers, totally 6,000 liter valued at 700,000 THB. All the equipment was seized as evidence.

Interrogating Mr. Viritphol Vongsa, 45, the owner of the house confessed that he hails from Lopburi province and has lived in Chonburi for 15 years.

First he was a cab driver then he quit driving and became an illegal liquor producer. The name of his moonshine: “Yadong Wei Hei”.

Mr. Viritphol was producing and delivering to 100 branches in Pattaya, Banglamung and Laem Chabang. His modus operandi. He bought the raw liquor from Mr. “Bird”, age about 25-30. Thereafter he mixed the raw liquor with different types of Thai herbs that he bought from Chonburi market. The herbal fermentation went on for two weeks in a 200 liter tank. After that the illicit alcohol was sold the customers.

Mr. Viritphol had been a successful illicit herbal liquor producer for four years and had made enough money to buy two houses and two cars.
Mr. Viritphol said that every eight months an officer of the liquor excise office of Laem Chabang area named Mr. Theerapat would collect 5,000 THB per shop for the franchise and Mr. Viritphol was issued a receipts which prevented him being arrested.

The “Yadong Wei Hei” booze factory case is under further investigation.