Narcotics Archives

Did the Western media try to drug Pan Zhanle after he won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics?! Take a look at the viral claims, and find out what the facts really are!

Claim : Western media tried to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!

This message has gone viral on WhatsApp and Douyin, claiming that the Western media tried to drug Chinese star swimmer Pan Zhanle after he won the gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics!

Shameless Angmoh! / circulating on WhatsApp :

Despicable and shameless Western media! PUI!!!

Chinese swimmer Pan Zhanle won the gold medal in the men’s 100m freestyle yesterday with a world record-breaking 46.40 seconds, beating his Western opponents. Just after the game, a Western media person enthusiastically offered Pan Zhanle water to drink; fortunately, Pan Zhanle’s coach found it and stopped him in time. Later, the Chinese team detected doping in the water!

What does this mean? This means that if Pan Zhanle accidentally drank the water handed over by the Western media, and was summoned for a urine test later, he would definitely be found to contain doping in his urine! That means Pan Zhanle has no excuses, not only will his gold medal in the final be revoked, he will even face the misfortune of being banned by the International Swimming Federation for a long time!

Think about it, Western media, athletes and those evil leaders, in order to stop China’s progress, are simply unscrupulous to the point of being outrageous! Hateful! Shameful! Hateful!

宥西方媒体热情拿水给潘展乐喝
被潘展乐教练发现后及时阻止
后来在水中检测出兴奋齐这
种卑鄙手段也只有美
硒方国家能做得出来

Translation : Western media enthusiastically offered water to Pan Zhanle to drink. Pan Zhanle’s coach found out and stopped him in time. Later, excitement was detected in the water. Only the United States and other countries can do such despicable means.

Truth : Western media did not try to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!

This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : No one tried to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!

Let me just start by quickly pointing out that no one tried to sabotage Pan Zhanle with a glass or bottle of water containing drugs.

If that actually occurred, it would have been a major scandal. The Chinese contingent and the IOC would have lodged a police report, and launched a major investigation into who did it and why. There would have been extensive coverage all over the world, and in particular, by the Chinese media.

Even Pan Zhanle, who isn’t shy about throwing about controversial claims, never said he was almost drugged by anyone. Neither did the Chinese Olympics team, who would have been furious about such an attempt.

Yet, there has been no coverage by any reputable media outlet, not even in China. Heck, there hasn’t even been any outrage amongst Chinese netizens over this terrible crime. That’s because it never happened. The story was completely fabricated!

Fact #2 : There was no evidence of any attempt to drug Pan Zhanle

The entire event was not only recorded and streamed on live TV, there were thousands of people watching Pan Zhanle win his gold medal, and then receive it on the podium with Kyle Chalmers of Australia and David Popovici of Romania.

If someone actually tried to drug him right after he won his gold medal, it would have been recorded by the many cameras at the Paris La Defense Arena, or witnessed by the Chinese and Olympic officials there. Yet, there is no photo of the Western media member who offered Pan Zhanle the drugged water?

What about the drugged water that Pan Zhanle almost consumed? If it existed, it would have been tested, and the Chinese contingent and IOC made aware of its contents. Yet, there is not even a photo of that glass or bottle of water, never mind an actual test report of its contents!

Fact #3 : Pan Zhanle was tested extensively

The Chinese swimming contingent has come under additional scrutiny at the 2024 Paris Olympics, due to the 2021 doping scandal in which 23 Chinese swimmers tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) before the Tokyo Olympics.

While the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) accept the Chinese explanation that the swimmers ate contaminated food at their hotel, it raised questions of its impartiality and whether Chinese swimmers were competing fairly.

As such, Chinese swimmers like Pan Zhanle were subjected to more stringent testing in Paris. Pan Zhanle pointed out that he took 21 doping tests from May to July, before the Paris Olympics.

I cooperated with all the testing procedures and stayed confident that I am competing fair and clean.

Unlike other Chinese swimmers, he didn’t gripe about the additional tests, saying that he didn’t feel that “there was any difference or influence (on his performance)”.

In other words, it would be quite impossible for Pan Zhanle to suddenly test positive for drugs right after winning his gold medal. It would have been picked up days, weeks, and months earlier.

I should also point out that Pan Zhanle was not part of the 23 Chinese swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine (TMZ) in 2021, before the Tokyo Olympics.

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Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Were the Grand Hyatt Erawan murder victims poisoned by rival drug lords?! Take a look at the viral claim, and find out what the facts really are!

Updated @ 2024-07-20 : Added new details, and photos
Originally posted @ 2024-07-19

Claim : Rival Drug Lords Poisoned Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!

People are sharing an “article” on WhatsApp, which claims that the Grand Hyatt Erawan murder victims were rival drug lords!

It is really long, so feel free to skip to the next section for the facts!

Interesting insights into the Bangkok tragedy.

DRUGS!

The Hidden World of Bangkok’s Drug Lords: A Riveting Tale of Poison and Power

In an unexpected twist that reads like a gripping crime thriller, the recent tragic deaths of six individuals at Bangkok’s Grand Hyatt Erawan Hotel have unveiled a hidden underworld of drug cartels and ruthless rivalries. Contrary to initial reports of a shooting, it has now been confirmed that these six individuals, all of whom were either Vietnamese Americans or Vietnamese nationals, fell victim to a sophisticated poisoning orchestrated by their rivals.

The victims, three men and three women, were discovered by hotel staff in their opulent suite, leading to a swift and intense police investigation. As details emerged, a shocking narrative of deceit and power struggles within the international drug trade began to unfold.

### The Victims: High-Profile Figures in the Drug Trade

The deceased were not ordinary tourists but prominent figures in a vast drug syndicate operating across Southeast Asia and beyond. Among them was Minh Nguyen, a notorious Vietnamese American who had long evaded law enforcement. Known for his ruthless tactics and immense wealth, Minh was rumored to be the brains behind one of the most sophisticated drug trafficking operations in the region.

Accompanying Minh were his close associates and enforcers, including his trusted lieutenant, Linh Tran, and his financial mastermind, Bao Le. The women, Ha Pham, Mai Vu, and Lan Huynh, played crucial roles in the syndicate, managing logistics, money laundering, and communications.

### The Rivals: A Calculated Strike

Preliminary investigations suggest that this mass poisoning was a meticulously planned attack by a rival cartel, seeking to dismantle Minh’s empire and seize control of the lucrative drug routes. Sources indicate that a deadly toxin was discreetly introduced into their food or drinks during a seemingly innocuous business dinner.

The rival cartel, led by the enigmatic and elusive figure known only as “The Serpent,” has been vying for dominance in the drug trade for years. This calculated strike at the Grand Hyatt Erawan appears to be The Serpent’s most audacious move yet, signaling a new era of brutal power struggles in the criminal underworld.

### The Tour Guide: A Crucial Witness

Amid the chaos and tragedy, a sole survivor has emerged as a key figure in unraveling the mystery. An unsuspecting tour guide, hired to provide the group with local insights, miraculously escaped the poisoning. Now under protective custody, the tour guide has become an invaluable witness, offering crucial information about the group’s movements and interactions leading up to the fatal evening.

The tour guide’s testimony has shed light on the intricate web of deceit and betrayal that characterized the final hours of Minh and his associates. According to his account, the group seemed tense and on edge, frequently looking over their shoulders and speaking in hushed tones. His observations have provided investigators with critical clues about the possible involvement of hotel staff and other external collaborators in the poisoning plot.

### The Aftermath: Chaos and Retaliation

The brazen attack has sent shockwaves through the drug trafficking networks in Southeast Asia. In the wake of the deaths, Minh’s syndicate has been thrown into disarray, with rival factions scrambling for control. Violence has erupted in several key territories as former allies turn on each other, and law enforcement agencies are bracing for an unprecedented wave of criminal activity.

Thai authorities, in collaboration with international law enforcement, are now on high alert, launching a massive manhunt for The Serpent and his operatives. The poisoning has not only exposed the extent of criminal infiltration into high society but also highlighted the dangerous lengths to which these cartels will go to maintain their dominance.

Bangkok, a city known for its vibrant nightlife and bustling streets, is now shrouded in a sense of unease. The Grand Hyatt Erawan, once a symbol of luxury and elegance, has become a stark reminder of the dark forces lurking beneath the surface. As police intensify their investigation, the city’s residents and tourists are left wondering how deep the criminal connections run and what the future holds for the once peaceful metropolis.

Show less

Truth : Rival Drug Lords Did Not Poison Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!

This is yet another example of fake news circulating on WhatsApp, and here are the reasons why…

Fact #1 : Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims Have Different Names

Let me start by pointing out that six victims who died in the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel in Bangkok, have completely different names from what was mentioned in the viral WhatsApp article.

The article claimed that these were the victims – Minh Nguyen, Linh Tran, Bao Le, Ha Pham, Mai Vu, and Lan Huynh.

The Thai authorities have officially identified the victims as Sherine Chong, Thi Nguyen Phuong, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan, Dinh Tran Phi, Hong Pham Thanh, and Hung Dang Van.

As you can see, the viral WhatsApp article didn’t even get a single name correct!

Fact #2 : There Is No Drug Lord Called Minh Nguyen

There is no also Vietnamese American drug lord called Minh Nguyen operating in the Southeast Asian region, with a trusted lieutenant called Linh Tran, and a financial mastermind called Bao Le.

The only Vietnamese American called Minh Nguyen who was involved in the drug trade was a small-time dealer who was arrested in September 2006 for distributing Ecstasy, and sentenced to 21 months in prison.

Fact #3 : There Is No Drug Lord Called The Serpent

Unsurprisingly, there is also no drug lord operating in Southeast Asia called The Serpent.

Fact #4 : Thai Police Called It Murder-Suicide

Thai police investigating the case believe that it was a murder-suicide committed by one of the victims – Sherine Chong, who laced cups of tea with cyanide. Tests confirmed the presence of cyanide in a tea flask and six tea cups, as well as the bodies of the six victims.

The group ordered food and English tea to be delivered to their room on the 5th floor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan hotel. When the hotel staff arrived with the food, only Sherine Chong was present. They offered to brew and serve the tea, but Chong allegedly declined and said that she would take care of it.

Shortly after that, CCTV footage showed all six members of the group gathering outside the room, and then entering. That would be the last time they were seen alive. According to Noppasin Poonsawat, the deputy commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau:

It all started after 13:57 [on Monday], after the hotel staff brought six teacups, a milk pot and two flasks into the room. We found cyanide on the six cups. According to CCTV, there was no one else – apart from the six members of the group – going inside the room, and none of them were seen coming out, after 14:17.

After the group of six people entered the room, no other visitors were seen entering the room, and no one was observed leaving either. The door remained locked.

The six victims were only found dead the next day, on late Tuesday afternoon, when they were found by the housekeeping staff after they were late to check out.

The plates of food they ordered appeared to be untouched, and still sealed in cling wrap film. Only the tea appeared to have been consumed.

The police ruled out a mass suicide, as some of the victims made future arrangements for their trip, and they were not grouped together when they died. Four bodies were in the living room, two were in the bedroom, with two of the victims appearing to be reaching for the door but collapsed before they could.

Fact #5 : Murder-Suicide Related To Investment Debt Dispute

Police interviews with relatives of the deceased indicated that the murder-suicide is likely due to disputes over an investment project in Japan.

As Major General Theeradet Thumsuthee, head of the Bangkok Metropolitan Police Bureau’s investigation unit, explained:

The case likely stems from debt issues. There is no other possibility. The perpetrator is among the six deceased because they were the only ones who entered the room. There was no one else.

Investigators said that the deceased were a mix of borrowers, lenders, and guarantors. Vietnamese nationals Thi Nguyen Phuong, 46, and her husband, Hong Pham Thanh, 49, apparently invested about 10 million Thai bahts ($278,000/£214,000) with Sherine Chong and a Vietnamese woman to build a hospital in Japan.

When that project did not progress, the investors filed a lawsuit. The six individuals were scheduled to meet in court in two weeks, but Sherine Chong invited them to negotiate before the court date. Initially, they planned to meet in Japan, but later decided to meet in Bangkok instead due to visa issues.

Fact #6 : They Were Not Involved In Drugs

There is also no evidence that the deceased were involved in the trafficking or sale of narcotics.

Husband and wife Hong Pham Thanh and Thi Nguyen Phuong, for example, ran a construction company in Vietnam.

Meanwhile, Dinh Tran Phi is a famous Vietnamese make-up artist who goes by the name Phua Gia Gia, and has been in the beauty industry for almost 20 years. He appeared to be in Bangkok working for Sherine Chong.

Finally, Thi Nguyen Phuong Lan was apparently asked by Sherine Chong to act as a intermediary in the negotiations over the investment.

Please help us FIGHT FAKE NEWS by sharing this fact check article out, and please SUPPORT our work!

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Support my work through a bank transfer / PayPal / credit card!

Name : Adrian Wong
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Credit Card / Paypal : https://paypal.me/techarp

Dr. Adrian Wong has been writing about tech and science since 1997, even publishing a book with Prentice Hall called Breaking Through The BIOS Barrier (ISBN 978-0131455368) while in medical school.

He continues to devote countless hours every day writing about tech, medicine and science, in his pursuit of facts in a post-truth world.

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Tag Archives: Narcotics

Did Western media try to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics?!

Claim : Western media tried to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!

Truth : Western media did not try to drug Pan Zhanle at 2024 Olympics!

Please Support My Work!

Did rival drug lords poison Grand Hyatt Erawan murder victims?!

Claim : Rival Drug Lords Poisoned Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!

Truth : Rival Drug Lords Did Not Poison Grand Hyatt Erawan Victims!

Please Support My Work!