Matthew Dray Plueger
(seated, left) is being deported back to the U.S.A. to face drugs
charges.
Boonlua Chatree
Chonburi Immigration Police have arrested an American
man wanted in the United States on drug charges.
Matthew Dray Plueger, 36, was apprehended whilst
drinking on Beach Road near Soi 5 Feb. 7. He was initially booked on
charges of illegally staying in the kingdom as he claimed to have lost
his passport.
Lt. Col. Prapansak Prasansuk alleged Plueger has been
hiding out in Thailand for two years, but was only caught after he
attempted to obtain more passport pages at the U.S. Embassy in Laos. The
embassy confiscated the fugitive’s passport, but he was somehow able to
escape detention and crossed over the border illegally in Nong Khai, the
investigator said.
Wanted in California on drug possession and dealing
charges, Plueger will be deported back to America.