Drug-Dealing Couple With HIV Arrested Near Bang Yai District Office

On August 4, 2025, Bang Yai District Chief Surachai Kotrbuttadee ordered security personnel to raid a four-story rental room located just 50 meters from the Bang Yai District Office in Nonthaburi Province. The operation followed a tip-off that an LGBTQ couple was running a daily rental room at 350 baht per day while illegally distributing ice and methamphetamine pills. After an undercover purchase, authorities arrested Khrongphop, 51, and Anuwat, 40, both from Nonthaburi Province, along with drugs and paraphernalia including 0.65 grams of ice, two methamphetamine pills, one syringe filled with saline and ice, 13 needles, and seven 5-milliliter bottles of saline solution.

Both suspects disclosed they are HIV-positive, with Khrongphop infected for nearly 20 years and Anuwat for two years. Under interrogation, Khrongphop admitted to being both the dealer and owner of the drugs, while Anuwat claimed to be only a user. Khrongphop sold ice-saline mixtures in syringes for 300 baht each exclusively to members of his LINE group, purchasing supplies from regular pharmacies. He used proceeds from drug sales to gamble on online slots and to buy more methamphetamine and ice for resale.

The deputy district chief expressed concern that Khrongphop's practice of filling customer-supplied syringes made it impossible to verify whether needles had been previously used, creating a serious HIV transmission risk. He urged anyone who purchased drugs from Khrongphop to undergo thorough blood testing for their own safety. Khrongphop has a prior drug trafficking conviction from Ubon Ratchathani in April 2025. Authorities charged Khrongphop with three offenses: attempting to distribute Category 1 drugs (ice) without permission, possession of drugs, and drug use. Anuwat faces a single charge of drug use. Both are in custody pending further legal proceedings.