CHON BURI ― A man was arrested for growing more than 200 marijuana plants on the roof deck of his three-storey townhouse in Muang district on Thursday.
Nattapon Pattanaprateepkul, 29, a master’s degree holder who described himself as an avid cannabis user, had cultivated his beloved plant for his own use and selling it for three years before the police, acting on a tip-off, apprehended him.
Mr Nattapon told police he learned how to cultivate the marijuana plant from the internet and purchased about two dozen species of seeds online from foreign sources, costing him 300 baht each.
He sold his "magic weed" at between 15,000-20,000 baht per kilogramme, depending on the plant’s species.
The house, where the elaborate growing operation was found, was owned by Mr Nattapon’s father. The man's "secret garden” was installed with an insect-proof net, wall-mounted fans and an automatic sprinkler system.
Mr Nattapon was charged with consuming and producing a Type 5 drug.
Rooftop marijuana grower Nattapon Pattanaprateepkul was arrested at his home in Chon Buri on Thursday. Photos by Thatree Rasrichan