Following earlier reports that Thailand will soon send durians to space, we’re not surprised by the next-level form of appreciation that the locals — in this story — have for the fruit.
After being shown CCTV footage of him and a friend stealing durians from a fruit stall, a 17-year-old teen in central Prachinburi province confessed yesterday that he did commit the durian theft — because, he explained, he needed to exchange the stinky fruit for drugs.
The teenage boy, whose name is being withheld by authorities, told police when he was detained yesterday that he and his neighbor Saichon Kijbanhan, 40, stole a total of six durians from a shop in Sri Mahosot District on the night of May 30.
The boy claimed that Saichon, who’s still at large, knew a dealer who would accept durians as payment for meth tablets. The teen said he was persuaded to steal from a durian vendor named Rom Intawong, Workpoint reported.
After the pair made off with the durians, Saichon ventured out to conduct the durian-drug exchange. An hour later, Saichon returned and gave him five meth tablets. The boy alleged he had no knowledge of how many tablets Saichon had acquired in total.
After he was arrested, the teen boy said he felt ashamed, and subsequently apologized to Rom. Seemingly touched by the gesture, the fruit vendor simply schooled the boy and decided she would not press charges.
Meanwhile, police are still looking to arrest Saichon and inquire more information from him about the durian-slash-drug dealer.
