Phuket police arrest British man with Diazepam

A British national has been arrested in Phuket after he was found to be in possession of Diazepam (aka. ‘Valium’). The drug, sometimes used for anxiety or to relieve the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal, is a prohibited substance in Thailand.

“Diazepam is an anxiolytic benzodiazepine, first patented and marketed in the US in 1963. It is a fast-acting, long-lasting benzodiazepine commonly used to treat anxiety disorders and alcohol detoxification, acute recurrent seizures, severe muscle spasms, and spasticity associated with neurologic disorders.”

A British man, named only as 27 year old Mr Thomas, was arrested in Karon earlier this week. The arrest happened at a checkpoint set up by Karon Police by Nai Harn Lake.

Officers stopped a passing taxi and searched its foreign passenger, who police say looked “suspicious”. The authorities did not specify in what way Mr Thomas looked suspicious but upon searching him, they discovered one Diazepam pill on his person.

The Briton has been taken to Karon Police Station to be charged with illegal possession of a Category 4 drug.

His detention is the latest in a spate of arrests across the island as part of a crackdown on law-breaking foreigners.

SOURCE: The Phuket Express