KOH PHANGAN — Police on Koh Phangan have arrested a Chinese man accused of entering Thailand illegally and selling drugs to tourists on the island after allegedly purchasing the narcotics from a Russian supplier, authorities said Monday.
Yunlong, 40, was taken into custody on November 24 at a house in Moo 1 of Ban Tai subdistrict, where officers from Koh Phangan Police Station and immigration police said they had observed a constant stream of foreigners entering and leaving the property. When officers arrived to conduct a search, Yunlong attempted to run inside and block the door but was quickly detained.
Police said a search of the residence uncovered 285 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 96 ecstasy pills, 4.8 grams of MDMA, a quantity of LSD “stamps,” and various drug-taking equipment.
Authorities launched the investigation after receiving a tip that a foreign national had slipped into the country illegally and was selling drugs in tourist areas. Surveillance of the house led officers to believe the suspect was involved in ongoing drug sales.
Police said Yunlong admitted he had crossed into Thailand illegally from Cambodia, paying a broker 20,000 baht ($615) to guide him through a natural border crossing. He also told investigators that he bought the drugs from a Russian national via the Telegram messaging app and resold them to tourists in Koh Phangan’s party zones.
Officials said the case highlights the growing use of Telegram as a marketplace for illicit drugs and the expanding links among foreign criminal networks operating in Thailand’s tourism hubs.
Yunlong has been charged with possession of Type 1 narcotics (ecstasy, LSD and MDMA) and Type 5 narcotics (psilocybin mushrooms) with intent to sell, and with illegal entry into the kingdom.
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