SURAT THANI: The latest Full Moon party at Koh Phangan late last month did not only draw Thai and foreign revellers. The famous moon festival also drew authorities, who went there for a not-so-merry objective -- to crack down on drugs.
Narcotics use had been reported at Koh Phangan for many years, yet officials did not focus their efforts on the island, partly because the drugs were mainly used by tourists during parties.
However, the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) decided to turn its attention to the spot, where news of drug use -- which is often followed with violence -- is threatening to tarnish the image of the resort island, just off the Surat Thani coastline.
