The 48-year-old Briton faces the death penalty in Thailand after being accused of dealing drugs to tourists
A British man faces the death penalty in Thailand after being caught by undercover police officers allegedly dealing drugs to tourists.
Charly Garcia, 48, from Londonis accused of dealing in a number of Class A drugs including cocaine, ketamine, ecstasy and hallucinogens.
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Thai Police have been on a mission to crack down on drugs and have recently made a number of major arrests.
Police in Chiang Mai he allegedly received a tip about the sale of very dangerous narcotics via Telegram to other tourists.
An undercover officer is said to have organized a meeting with the Briton on March 12 to buy £2,400 worth of drugs.
Cocaine, ketamine, magic mushrooms, LSD and ecstasy are all said to be part of the trade.
After the officer claimed he was given the drugs, police reportedly stormed the home hemp store where the Brit stood helpless before arresting him.
Police led him back to his room at the Mountain View Condominium in Chang Phueak sub-district, where they say they made another chilling discovery.
Approximately 408 grams of cocaine, 595 grams of magic mushrooms and 160 pills of Diazepam and Alprazolam were found.
Quantities of LSD, MDMA and ecstasy tablets were also collected as evidence, police say.
Mr Garcia looked smug as he was handcuffed and police took pictures of the drugs.
He was questioned at the Mueang Chiang Mai police station about the alleged offences, as police claimed he was even “studying drugs”.
The Brit is now faced with life in jail and possibly the death penalty if found guilty.
Chiang Mai Provincial Police Major General Thawatchai Pongwiwattanachai alleged that Garcia had admitted to selling drugs.
He then said the Briton allegedly told him he had bought the narcotics from another tourist for £17,500.
He did not study the language as he should. He only studied medicine
Thawatchai Pongwiwattanachai
Pongwiwattanachai continued: “The suspect claimed it was his first time selling narcotics, but we didn’t believe him because our investigation showed he was a history of drug sales in Bangkok.
‘He entered Thailand on a student visa, which we believe was a ruse to get him to stay in the country where drugs are sold.
‘He hasn’t studied the language as he should. He only studied drugs.
“We are investigating further as he was uncooperative and refused to provide the password for his phone.
“We plan to investigate the Telegram application to expose its drug network and take legal action against its suppliers and customers.”
According to reports, Thai police said Garcia has been charged with possession of drugs with intent to supply.
Thai law states that carrying Category I drugs such as LSD and Ecstasy for “disposal or possession for the purpose of disposal” can carry a death sentence for anyone caught.
In Thailand, being caught with Class A drugs can lead to a prison sentence of ten years.
THAILAND’S DRUG PROBLEMS
Garcia is the third British tourist to be arrested in recent weeks for alleged drug trafficking.
Backpacker Andrew Brett, 36, was arrested in February for distributing cocaine and LSD on the island of Koh Tao.
Peter Hull, 44, was reportedly caught with cocaine and ecstasy in his room on the island of Koh Samui on March 1.
Alarmed neighbors called police on Hull after apparent strange and violent behaviour.
All three face lengthy periods behind bars ahead of their hearings, where they could face serious punishment.
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