Hostage situation follows unsuccessful undercover drugs bust in East Pattaya

October 16, 2012

pattya city real estate property condos house sale rent buy jomtien bangkok luxury hotel spa resort store gold silver

A hostage situation occurred during an undercover drug suppression operation on Monday Night which required intervention by the Provincial Police Commander. Banglamung Police conducted the operation in an attempt to arrest a well-known and previously convicted drug-dealer in East Pattaya whereby an undercover agent would be used to purchase drugs from him. The operation began, however the suspect, Khun Jatuporn aged 31, known by local gangs as “Tour Banlang”, soon realized he was being set-up by an undercover agent. He told his girlfriend to wait in his car while he moved towards his house and grabbed the undercover agent, whose name is being withheld for his own safety. Police realized they had a hostage situation on their hands and called in specialist officers from Region 2 Police along with the Chonburi Police Commander, Police Major General Katcha who coordinated efforts to negotiate the safe release of the Police agent. After 30 minutes the agent was released but Khun Jatuporn remained inside the house. Officers moved in and arrested Khun Jatuporn without incident, however he is thought to have discards drugs during the hostage incident. 1 Yabba Tablet and 5g of Crystal Methamphetamine were found in his car. Arrests of the suspects girlfriend and other family members were made and a search for a firearm thought to also be in the house was unsuccessful. Khun Jatuporn, who had been released from Prison in January 2012 after serving a 5 year sentence for drug dealing offences was later charged with possession of a class 1 drug with intent to sell and abduction and awaits trial. Other family members and his girlfriend were later released without charge.