Brit, 48, arrested for 'dealing Class A drugs' as cops crack down on foreigners behaving badly in Thailand

A third British man is facing life in prison after he was arrested for allegedly dealing Class A drugs amid a crackdown on misbehaving foreigners in Thailand.

Charly Garcia, 48, from London, had reportedly been selling cocaine, ecstasy and other narcotics to tourists via the Telegram app when police in Chiang Mai received a tip-off.

An undercover agent allegedly arranged a meeting with the Brit at a cannabis shop on March 12, pretending to buy cocaine, ketamine, magic mushrooms, LSD, and ecstasy for 110,000 baht (2,400 GBP).

Upon completing the sale, police stormed in and arrested Charly.

They took him to his room at the Mountain View Condominium in the Chang Phueak subdistrict, where they reportedly found 408 grams of cocaine, 595 grams of magic mushrooms, and 160 pills of Diazepam and Alprazolam. LSD and ecstasy were also among the alleged haul.

Charly - potentially facing the death penalty or up to life in prison - smirked as he posed for mug shots in front of the drugs before he was questioned at the Mueang Chiang Mai Police Station.

Police Major General Thawatchai Pongwiwattanachai, commander of the Chiang Mai Provincial Police, said Charly allegedly admitted selling narcotics, which he claimed to have bought from another tourist for 800,000 baht (17,500 GBP).

The suspect also reportedly acquired magic mushrooms from a foreigner in the Pai district of Mae Hong Son province for 20 baht (0.44 GBP) per gram, selling some before his arrest.

Police Major General Thawatchai said: 'The suspect claimed it was his first time selling narcotics, but we didn't believe him because our investigation revealed he has a history of selling narcotics in Bangkok.

'He had entered Thailand on a student visa, which we believe was a ruse to allow him to stay in the country selling drugs. He didn't study language like he was supposed to. He only studied drugs.

'We are investigating further as he was uncooperative and refused to provide the password for his phone.

'We intend to examine the Telegram application to uncover his drug network and take legal action against his suppliers and customers.'

Charly was charged with possessing narcotics in the categories I, II, and V for distribution, as well as possessing category II and IV psychotropic drugs without authorisation.

According to Thai law, carrying Category I drugs, including LSD and ecstasy, for 'disposal or possession for the purpose of disposal', has a maximum punishment of the death sentence or life in prison. The most severe punishments are reserved for those who 'produce of import' the substances, while simply possessing the drugs can land offenders in jail for up to 10 years.

Dealing with the lesser Category 2 drugs, which include cocaine and ketamine, can carry a life sentence while possession alone has a punishment of five years.

Charly is the third British tourist arrested for alleged drug dealing in recent weeks - with all now facing lengthy spells in the country's notorious prisons.

Backpacker and new father Andrew Brett, 36, was detained for reportedly distributing cocaine and LSD on Koh Tao island on 29 February. He may face life imprisonment or the death penalty based on Thailand's Narcotics Act.

While another British man Peter Hull, 44, was arrested at his home on Koh Samui island on 1 March. Alarmed neighbours said his strange and violent behaviour had led them to call the police.

A raid of his room allegedly found cocaine and ecstasy. Police have warned that he could face a severe prison sentence or deportation.

The arrests come amid a wider crackdown on foreigners behaving badly in the Southeast Asian country, that was sparked earlier this month by the arrest of Swiss businessman Urs Beat Fehr, 45, for kicking a Thai doctor who was sitting on his beachfront garden steps in Phuket.

Officers in that region alone have arrested at least 40 foreigners in the days since and ministers have warned 'guests in the country' to follow the local laws.

The spate of drug arrests pushed the government's Department of Medical Services (DMS) to warn of the dangers of 'death stamps', pieces of blotting paper infused with lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), which are being sold at parties.

Deputy Director-General Pairoj Surattanawanich said the drugs can lead to severe mental health issues.