AN Italian tourist was arrested for allegedly selling drugs following the death of a British reveller on the island of the notorious Full Moon Party in Thailand.
Federico Carlo Eugenio Pistolesi, 36, had reportedly been supplying banned narcotics to retailers and foreign tourists on Koh Phangan island.
He also ran shady real estate businesses believed to be fronts for money laundering.
Police arrested him on the tropical tourist island on December 19, following investigations into a drug network in the region.
The crackdown came after a Brit reveller, 37, died on November 16 from a boozy all-nighter on the island.
Officers believe he had also taken drugs at the beach party.
Police Major General Panumas Boonyalak, acting commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, said in a press conference on Thursday: “Pistolesi and his drug network have been living in Thailand for several years, mostly on Koh Phangan, with no occupations or other businesses.
“They started setting up companies to launder money from selling drugs.
“They would attend parties held by foreigners and sell drugs at entertainment venues.
“We will continue following the paper trail to arrest others involved.
“The Immigration Bureau will revoke their visas and place them on the blacklist.”
Police seized 24 pieces of evidence, including a bank account containing £153,000, a 0.79-acre plot of land worth £185,000 and a Mazda sedan.
Pistolesi was charged with distributing Category 1 and 2 narcotics, colluding to commit serious drug offences, colluding with two or more people to commit money laundering, and illegal possession of Category 1 narcotics.
The drug crack down comes after a British tourist was found dead following the annual Full Moon Party on the island.
The 37-year-old had downed cheap shots before trying to find his way home from the raucous beach event.
However, he was found dead shortly after 6.30 am on December 16.
Police and paramedics arrived at around 7.20am but they were unable to revive him.
They believe he had taken ‘drink and drugs’ at the Full Moon Party on Sunday night.
The Thai Full Moon Party is an all-night beach party on the island of Koh Phangan.
The party takes place on the night of every full moon and is usually attended by thousands of backpackers.
But the event has become a notorious celebration filled with cheap drink and drugs.
With cannabis now legal on the island, magic mushrooms, kratom, methamphetamine and LSD are also widely available.
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