Boonlua Chatree
Police raided a homemade-whiskey brewery in East
Pattaya, seizing 6,000 liters of enhanced whiskey destined for bars
around Pattaya.
Homeowner Wirithpol Wongsa, 45, was arrested in the
June 30 raid at the Rattanakan Village 3 house in East Pattaya. The
liquor, mixed with various energy drinks and supplements, was worth more
than 700,000 baht police said.
Police said Wirithpol confessed to being a former cab
driver who found more money in brewing moonshine called “I Dagya,” which
is Thai whiskey mixed with tonics such as Maa Lrathuebrong, Domairoolom,
Sao Songpunpee, Nareelumpung and Krachaidum. The elixirs, sold to
customers as shots, supposedly increase energy, sexual potency, enhance
relaxation or have other effects. The mixture is stored in 200-liter
containers for two weeks before it is shipped to customers.
For his own homemade mixture, “Yaa Dong Wei Hey.”
Wirithpol said he buys uncut booze from Bangkok twice a month, then
mixes it with the herbal compounds bought in Chonburi before reselling
it to more than 100 bars in Pattaya.
While no licenses or permits were found, Wirithpol
confessed that a representative from the Laem Chabang Excise Office has
repeatedly tried to get him and his customers to purchase liquor
licenses to make the operation legal. At 5,000 baht per license,
however, everyone involved declined.
