From Andrew Drummond, Bangkok,
Pictures: Andrew Chant Pictures
April 28 2008
Link to Belfast Telegraph story
Thomas McAuley after his arrest in Pattaya
An Irishman faces a death sentence in Thailand after being arrested today dealing in a cocktail of drugs in a beach resort.
Thomas McAuley, 48, was caught in a sting operation in the Thai resort of Pattaya, 100 miles east of Bangkok. Thai police say he was dealing in crystal ice, methamphetamines known locally as ‘yaa baa’ – the mad drug – and also opium and cannabis.
McAuley, born in Belfast but an Irish passport holder, sold drugs to teenagers in the resort city, said Police Colonel Somnut Jutkate. “He dealt the drugs from his Toyota Fortuna (SUV). After receiving information we put him under surveillance.”
Thai police used an informant, to buy a quantity of ice valued at 6000 Thai baht. (130 Euros £115)
When he was arrested McAuley had 109 grams of crystal ice in his possession, in two packets. Seven tabs of methamphetamine, 11.4 grams of cannabis, and 12 grams of opium. He also had a set of scales, and 60 bags for packing his drugs in.
He also had on him 52,000 Thai baht (£1107/ Euros 1,124) as well as the 6,000 provided by the informant, believed to be one of McAuley’s clients.
“He is a major drugs dealer in Pattaya, “said Police Colonel Jutkate. McAuley has been charged with trafficking in class 1 and 2 drugs.
The charge of trafficking in Class 1 drugs carried the death sentence in Thailand, although this is invariably commuted to life imprisonment for westerners.
But in a ‘War on Drugs’ initiated by Thailand’s ousted Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra in 2003 over 2,000 people were gunned down by police in what Human Rights agencies have called ‘injudicial killings’
People convicted on drugs charges cannot apply for parole, or pardons.
Unlucky…..you deserve it….everyone knows what it is like out there so why even bother?
These stories of foreigners facing life in jail jar with the reality I’ve seen in Thailand.
Although I don’t use drugs myself, a Thai lad I knew for several years supplied drugs in two nightclubs in South Pattaya. When the “war on drugs” was in full swing I urged him to find another profession, even looking at ways to help him into a legitimate business with some finance (in addition to the half a million in his own bank, quite a feat for a young Thai).
He wasn’t worried. “It’s the police I buy them from” he told me. TIT.
Poor fool. That would have made him even more expendable. It’s not a huge secret that a large number of prominent Thais in uniform have made money out of narcs for decades. The same people would also have been huge fans of the WOD for the usual political & profit reasons. The dead were mostly small timers like your friend who knew too much about the deviousness and hypocrisy of almost all poo-yais in this country
Laughed my head off at this article. Have you read Send Tehm To Hell by Sebastian Williams? If you do, you’ll realise why i sarcastically call into the question the validity of drug convictions - inclusing that of the featured Paddy in this article!
Interesting to read..
“People convicted on drugs charges cannot apply for parole, or pardons”
Just tough luck if you’re innocent then?
And if Mr McAuley is really a major drug dealer, why is he still selling shit on the streets from the back of his car? I thought a major drug dealer would be back at the mansion, snorting Charlie with 10 whores and planning the next hit on his enemies!
From what i heard he was a major loyalist dealer back in belfast and had too leave ….
http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/tv/programmes/spotlight/
Word in Pattaya is he also had a lot of guns when the local cops busted him ….
The rumour on the streets in Pattaya is that he did fall foul of some paramilitaries in Ulster and was forced out the province.
He has allegedly been living and dealing in Pattaya for a good few years now and was a heavy drug user himself.
he was small time and made some small money maybe 1 baht more then the guy that sold him out for me send him down
the big fish that surply these drugs in Thailand burma and laos are still free
if you are stupid enough to get into drugs in Thailand and there are lots then you will pay the price if caught
he should have read that book buy warren fellows
oh well at least i got away from the police and out of thailand ( i think they call that curuption ), and for all you do gooders in thailand i say look at the skeleton’s in your cupboard before you speak what secrets are you hideing ?. i sold cocaine as there was a need for it, and it was the best in thailand and not stuff that was mixed. it cannot be stopped and it will never be stopped no matter what laws they try to impose so get real. as arni would say I will be back ha ha ha
this guy was a neighbour in the ROI, always up to no good
I knew Tommy, good lad…..Shame he didn’t sort himself out before it came to this….
I knew Tommy very briefly in Koh Samui and he was a good bloke….i don’t care what anyone says, you should not be sent to death for dealing drugs. Nobody forces anybody to buy the damn things - its just business. Its not as if he was a paedo or anything.
Been to Thailand many times a bit of simple advice DON’T DO ANY DRUGS AT ALL.
Duncan: doing paedo things is a business too… as usually no one is forcing the girl or her mother
Everyone with an ounce of sense researches the law before they commit a crime at home and abroad and if they dont well words fail me
Therefore you should know the penelty if caught and be prepared for the consiquences if that happens its no good crying about it
you did the crime now do the time or whatever / when in rome do as the romans do / you want to live amongst them you must suffer the same law and punishment as them if you get the impression i offer no sympathy well you are right i dont you are not being punished for commiting the crime you are being punished for being stupid enough to be caught commiting the crime as my old colonell used to say
The guy got what he deserves. Yes if his supplier was the same thai police Man who sits outside The Blue Factory Beer Bars every night he would have been fine.These Thai police men are evil. Its all money and nothing else matters. I have bundles of story’s i could bore you with.
he used to bost that he was a hitman in the bars in Samui. He fancied him slef s a local bully always making threats to people that he harly ever backed up. he was a proper prick !!
This is Thai laws but is not enought to hold area all country. I would proud of my country if we are with out of any drugs. But all you are know that diffically to be any country are the same. I would like have strong of the law and court also sent them all any one whom made drugs dealers sent thems to be DEATH PENALTY. So many come to Thailand and try to bring drugs to sold try to make money with out use them brand. Commone if they try to killing peoples why law cannot kill them. Do it this is the way they know and but they are want to dies. Hope that will have a good new of nice country about be not to in the line of drug country.
Enjoys your life with out druging….
i was in pattaya prison with tom and he has a heart and helped get me thew my sentence i hope he gets away with it the police lied about were and where he was just doing what he new most about good luck mate hope your feet are better bro big dave