THAI police have until next month to charge or release a Newport man in prison on suspicion of conspiring to supply drugs.

Marcus Parker, 45, was arrested in Phuket, along with German national Miki Maksim Klasnovic, 31, on suspicion of conspiring to supply drugs on April 30 and has been in held in Phuket Prison since then.

Mr Parker, who grew up in the Gaer, was living with his Thai wife, Lampai, and two children, Simon, eight, and Marina, five, in Chanakam Village, where he was working as a timeshare salesman.

Police have 84 days from the day of his arrest to release or charge him, which expires on July 23. Mr Parker’s childh o o d f r i e n d s , A n d r ew M o r g a n and Dave G i b s o n , have been contacting his family and trying to do what they can to help him.

Mr Gibson said Mr Parker’s brother, Richard, has now flown out to help get him a solicitor and the British Consulate has also been involved.

He said: “They still want two million baht, which is about £40,000, for his bail, but they still haven’t charged him or anything. We’re just trying to get him out. I’ve spoken to his wife. There’s just no movement at the moment.”

Mr Gibson is planning to fly out to join Mr Parker’s brother to do what he can to get him released.

Mr Parker and Mr Klasnovic were arrested with a Thai man in a police sting set up after an ex-pat tourist tipped off Thai police about an alleged drug gang.

It is alleged that the informer met Mr Parker and Mr Klasnovic opposite a petrol station in Chao Fa West Road to pick up four grammes of methamphetamine, known locally as ‘ya ice’. The two men then allegedly crossed the road on motorcycles to the petrol station, where two men were waiting in a Toyota Vios pick-up truck, where police say the informer paid 24,000 baht for the drug. Three of the men were arrested and a fourth escaped on foot.