Antonio Damiano Malagrino, a 43-year-old Italian tourist, is facing narcotics charges after his meltdown at Chalee Place on Soi Buakhao in Pattaya on May 3. During his paranoid rant, he threw the contents of his hotel room, including a refrigerator, furniture, and a TV, from the second-floor balcony.
He blamed marijuana for his actions, which was backed up by many packets of cannabis found in his room, but a urine test revealed that he was actually high on crystal methamphetamines, also known as "ya ice." The use of marijuana has been decriminalized in Thailand, but crystal meth is a Class 1 narcotic and carries severe criminal penalties.
Civil-defense volunteers broke into Malagrino's room and took him to the Pattaya Police Station, where he was tested positive for crystal meth. His girlfriend, who was with him at the time, was consoled by the volunteers. Tourists and residents in the area were shocked, amused, and awed as they watched Malagrino's viral rampage after his overdose of "ya ice" pushed him over the edge.
He blamed marijuana for his actions, which was backed up by many packets of cannabis found in his room, but a urine test revealed that he was actually high on crystal methamphetamines, also known as "ya ice." The use of marijuana has been decriminalized in Thailand, but crystal meth is a Class 1 narcotic and carries severe criminal penalties.
Civil-defense volunteers broke into Malagrino's room and took him to the Pattaya Police Station, where he was tested positive for crystal meth. His girlfriend, who was with him at the time, was consoled by the volunteers. Tourists and residents in the area were shocked, amused, and awed as they watched Malagrino's viral rampage after his overdose of "ya ice" pushed him over the edge.
