An Israeli citizen was arrested during a raid on a cannabis farm he owned in the Krabi district of Thailand on Wednesday, Thai newspaper Khaosod reported.
The raid was a joint operation between the governor of Krabi province and the local police chief, targeting the Israeli-owned cannabis farm, which has been accused of trying to evade Thai business law by having Thai nationals hold shares on behalf of foreign nationals.
The Krabi Provincial Court issued search warrants for the premises, and officials read and explained the warrants to the company owner via an interpreter before conducting the search. The owner cooperated with the authorities.
On the premises, officers found a fully equipped indoor cannabis cultivation facility, which was allegedly used for multiple offences, including tours for tourists, allowing cannabis consumption on the premises, and extracting cannabis with THC levels exceeding legal limits that would require the classification of the product as a narcotic, as well as online sales and delivery of cannabis, according to Khaosod.
Krabi will not tolerate illegal businesses
Krabi Governor Angkul Silathevakul said the province would not tolerate foreign nationals conducting illegal business within its borders.
Commander of Krabi Provincial Police Maj Gen Sukkasem Nakvilai said the raid was the result of over two months of careful monitoring, which uncovered evidence that an Israeli investor hired Thai nationals to register a company in their names, only to transfer controlling shares to foreign interests in a 49-51 split.
Charges were filed, and police additionally issued arrests for four Thai nationals alleged to have been involved in the arrangement.