Police and public health officials in Chiang Mai conducted a sting operation using a foreign undercover agent to purchase magic mushrooms from a shop in Tha Pae Road in Muang district.
The undercover agent purchased a bag of mushrooms for 500 baht (RM65), prompting the authorities to raid the shop and arrest the owner. The owner, identified only as Paul, was handed several charges, including possessing and selling a Category 5 narcotic without authorisation.
Category 5 narcotics include cannabis, kratom, opium and cannabis or hemp plants with tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) levels exceeding 0.2% by weight.
A large quantity of psilocybin mushrooms, commonly referred to as magic mushrooms, was seized by police.
THC is a psychoactive substance that can cause anxiety, disorientation or paranoia.
The operation follows the death of 25-year-old British tourist Vadher Raj Akhil, who was visiting Chiang Mai with his girlfriend, on Dec 20. After taking photographs at Tha Pae Gate, a popular landmark, the couple bought magic mushrooms from a nearby shop.
About 40 minutes after consuming the mushrooms, the Briton began frothing at the mouth and suffered a fatal attack at the luxury resort in the Mae Rim district where he and his girlfriend were staying.
Investigation revealed that he had died from an overdose of the mushrooms and the victim’s girlfriend admitted that these had been bought from Paul’s shop, prompting the authorities to organise the sting operation and make the arrest. — The Nation/ANN
