Bangkok-
Two Japanese men were arrested in Bangkok on suspicion of possessing methamphetamine, Thai authorities announced on May 3rd, 2026.
The arrests took place on the evening of May 2nd in Soi Sukhumvit 33, an area popular with expats and tourists. Officers from the Immigration Bureau’s Investigation Division detained Mr. Yuya, 47, and Mr. Naoto, 51, both Japanese nationals.
The men face charges of jointly possessing a Category 1 narcotic, specifically methamphetamine known locally as ice, without authorization. During the operation, officers stopped the pair while they were riding a Honda ADV350 motorcycle. A search revealed approximately 16.04 grams of the drug hidden in plastic bags inside the front left storage compartment of the vehicle. Preliminary field tests confirmed the substance as methamphetamine.
According to the Immigration Bureau, the arrests followed a tip from an informant. The source reported that the two men, who have full-body tattoos resembling those associated with yakuza members, were allegedly selling drugs to foreign customers in central Bangkok’s economic and tourist zones, with notable activity around Sukhumvit Soi 33. Officers conducted surveillance in the area before intervening when the suspects appeared in a suspicious manner on the scooter.
Both men denied that the drugs belonged to them and claimed they didn’t know they were in the motorcycle which they claimed wasn’t owned by them. However, authorities stated that they had monitored the pair’s behavior over an extended period and possessed solid evidence linking them to the activity. The suspects were transferred to Thong Lor Police Station for further legal proceedings, and investigations are ongoing to identify any broader networks.
Pol Lt Gen Phanu Mas Bunyalak, commander of the Immigration Bureau, described the case as part of intensified efforts against foreign crime syndicates operating in Thailand. He announced stricter screening for visa renewals, noting that foreigners with criminal records or suspicious conduct could face denial of extensions and deportation. This is to curb transnational organized crime groups using the country as a base for activities targeting tourists and residents.
