Bangkok: Police apprehended a Chinese gang member at a condo where he was producing "potato" drugs for entertainment venues throughout Bangkok. Narcotics suppression police tracked down a Chinese drug gang and discovered a workshop producing "pod k" (a type of e-cigarette) for sale to KTVs, pubs, and bars throughout Bangkok. They apprehended the suspects at their condo and seized over 500 pod heads along with numerous production devices.
According to Thai News Agency, Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayon Kraithong, Commander of the Narcotics Suppression Bureau (NSB), revealed that the Royal Thai Police, through the Narcotics Suppression Bureau, is actively pursuing operations in accordance with the government and Royal Thai Police policies to seriously address the drug problem. Most recently, he ordered officers from Division 1, NSB 2, to intensify investigations into a Chinese network involved in the illegal production and sale of e-cigarettes mixed with ethomedate, also known as "Pod K" or "Pod Zombie," which are spreading rapidly in Bangkok.
This arrest stems from an operation in late November where police seized e-cigarette pods containing ethomedate and arrested four Chinese nationals. They also raided several warehouses and distribution points in the Huai Khwang, Pattaya, and Nonthaburi areas. Further investigation led to the tracking down of key suspects.
Later, on December 22, 2025, police officers located the suspect in the Sukhumvit 13 area and approached him for questioning. He was identified as Mr. Li, 32 years old, a Chinese national, who confessed to illegally selling e-cigarette pods mixed with ethomedate to a group of Chinese nationals in the Huai Khwang area for approximately 1,200 baht per pod. Further investigation revealed that the condominium unit in question was being used as a production base for these pods.
Officers then searched two rooms in a condominium in the Sukhumvit 13 area, with Police Lieutenant Colonel Kasidit Santipreechawat acting as a Chinese interpreter. The search yielded 552 ready-to-sell e-cigarette pods containing ethomedate, empty pods for filling, equipment for manufacturing the active ingredient, and a large quantity of packaging and containers for distribution.
Following the seizure of the items, the authorities charged the suspect with possession of a Category 2 controlled substance (ethomedate) with intent to sell, in violation of the law, for commercial purposes, and for dissemination among the public. The suspect was then taken into custody and handed over to investigators for legal proceedings. The investigation is ongoing to identify any related networks.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Achayon added that there is currently a continuous spread of 'pod ke' or 'pod zombie' among foreign tourists. Ethomedate, or atomedate, is an anesthetic used in medicine to induce temporary sleep. It acts quickly and depresses the central nervous system. When mixed into e-cigarettes, it causes users to experience euphoria, dizziness, and temporary unconsciousness. The side effects of using this substance are seriously dangerous to the body, including respiratory depression and cardiac arrhythmias, as well as psychological effects such as hallucinations, depression, and anxiety, which can lead to death.