Police Bust Secret MDMA Lab in Pattaya, Arrest American
Police raided a hidden drug lab in Pattaya and arrested a 42-year-old American man who was allegedly manufacturing and distributing MDMA to foreign clients across Thailand and overseas. Officers seized over 60 grams of MDMA, lab equipment,
On September 26, police under Region 3 commander Thongproed Sirisuk, together with officers from Region 1, executed a search warrant from Pattaya Provincial Court at a residence in Nong Prue subdistrict, Bang Lamung district, Chon Buri province. The raid led to the arrest of Mr. Liu, a 42-year-old American of Chinese descent, and the seizure of MDMA Class 1 narcotics weighing approximately 60 grams and 27 drug-mixing and distribution devices.
According to intelligence, Mr. Liu had been covertly distributing narcotics to foreign nationals both within Thailand and abroad. A thorough search uncovered a hidden room with sealed windows, converted into a "drug-mixing room." On a table inside were suspicious powder and crystal substances. Equipment indicating full drug preparation and packaging operations was found, including two digital scales, an aluminum mortar with pestle, a heat-sealing machine, graduated glass sets and beakers typical of scientific laboratories, syringes, and numerous 5×7 centimeter zip-lock plastic bags.
Also discovered were various additives commonly used to disguise narcotics as candy or beverages, such as caffeine, glucose, sucralose sweetener, pineapple flavoring, coffee powder, and milk flavoring. Light-brown crystals of methyldioxymethamphetamine (MDMA/Ecstasy) weighing over 60 grams were hidden in a kitchen sink and a bedroom safe, totaling more than half a kilogram of suspected narcotics based on preliminary chemical testing.
An examination of the suspect's iPhone 16 revealed notes in the Notes app containing "mixing recipes" specifying proportions of MDMA, ketamine, and caffeine per number of users, matching substances found in the residence. The notes also listed names and addresses of recipients in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Charged with distribution of Class 1 narcotics (MDMA) for commercial purposes, possession of Class 2 controlled substances (ketamine) without authorization, and drug consumption without authorization, Mr. Liu was transferred to Nong Prue police station for prosecution. During the arrest, Liu admitted the materials were his but claimed they were for personal use only, not for sale. However, police disbelieved this account, citing the volume of drugs found and corroborating evidence. Authorities plan to expand the investigation into his network of associates both in Thailand and abroad, as well as drug distribution routes.
