Thailand: Two Australian men could face death penalty after being arrested during drug raid

Heavily armed Thai police swarm over a high metal gate at a home in the coastal resort city of Pattaya

Two Australian men could face the death penalty in Thailand after they were among a group arrested during a drug raid.

Steven Brett Hovi, 58, and Jamie Robert Hansom, 46 were arrested after heavily armed officers entered a home in Oattaya at 5.30pm on Thursday.

The two men could face the death penalty if convicted, The Herald Sun reported.

Thai police said at a press conference they were pursuing a network of drug dealers from the Hells Angels outlaw motorcycle gang suspected of selling drugs to foreign tourists, local media reported.

Police said they seized 1.2 kilograms of crystal methamphetamine, known as ice, in clear plastic bags, ice-taking devices and guns including a Smith & Wesson revolver.

They also found six mobile phones, 12 debit cards spanning seven bank accounts, bank books, transfer slips, 12 cash tablets and a gray Toyota Vios sedan, local media reported.

Thai police said the arrests were a significant move against a global drug cartel.

Among those arrested in the sting were Nigerian man Chimezie Stanley Duru, 38, and Thai nationals Jiraporn Kiatsutthachit, 35, and Wirapha Ungsri, 34, local media reported.

At the press conference yesterday, Thai police posed with a display poster picturing those arrested that mentioned the Hells Angels and Comanchero outlaw motorcycle gangs.

Last month, police arrested another Australian man in Pattaya on suspicion of being a Hells Angel gang member.

The man was arrested after Thai officials met with Australian embassy officials to discuss the problem of outlaw motorcycle gangs, ABC News reported.

Thai officials revoked the man's visa and said they would deport him last month.

There is no suggestion the man arrested in October was tied in any way to Thursday's drug raid.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Daily Mail Australia on Friday it is ready to offer consular assistance to any Australian citizen should they request it.

Daily Mail Australia also contacted the Australian Federal Police for this story, and a spokesman said it was a matter for the Thai authorities.

Source: dailymail.co.uk, Staff, November 29, 2019

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