SURAT THANI - A Briton who failed to stop his motorcycle for a police search has been arrested after being found with cocaine and an expired visa.
Police spotted a foreign motorcyclist violating the traffic law while they were patrolling Chaweng beach around 5pm on Wednesday. They signalled him to stop but he sped off. The officers gave chase and managed to intercept the bike on Wat Phang Bua-Sanam Bin (airport) Road in tambon Bor Phud.
The rider was identified as Michael Philip Martin, 28, a British national.
A search found three sachets of cocaine, weighing 1.8 grammes, hidden in his shoulder bag. He was taken to the Bor Phud police station.
During questioning, Mr Martin admitted he had bought the drugs from a Thai man in front of a pub on Chaweng beach on Tuesday night for 4,000 baht per sachet for his own use.
Police checked his passport and found his visa had expired in October last year. He was charged with illegal possession of a Category 2 narcotic drug and overstaying his visa.
British national Michael Philip Martin points at three sachets of cocaine found on him after he was arrested on Wednesday evening. (Photo: Bor Phud police station)