Thai police have raided a luxury home in Chiang Mai during a birthday party allegedly involving drug use, arresting 21 people and seizing ketamine, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine.
The raid was carried out at about 12.30pm on Wednesday by officers from Provincial Police Region 5’s narcotics suppression unit in cooperation with San Sai police.
Police said the property belonged to the wife of a prominent former local politician. Officers had received information about a birthday gathering at the residence where drugs were allegedly being used.
According to police, officers disguised themselves as delivery riders and approached the house under the pretence of delivering goods. After observing a party taking place inside, they signalled for other officers to move in.
Police found 21 people at the property — nine men and 12 women — who were drinking and partying. Officers also seized quantities of ketamine, ecstasy and crystal methamphetamine.
All 21 individuals were taken for drug testing as police worked to determine who owned or possessed the drugs.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the drugs may have been ordered online, with those involved allegedly organising parties with friends and members of their wider social network at different entertainment venues and private residences.
Police said investigations are continuing and that they would seek to identify the source of the drugs and determine whether the case could be expanded to include others involved in the alleged drug network.
