A father has become the fourth Brit facing life in a hellhole Thai prison after being arrested for alleged cocaine dealing. (File video shows a general view of the island.)

Stephen Mullady, 45, from Ascot, Berkshire, was drinking with friends when cops raided his hotel room on the upmarket island of Phuket last night, March 18.

Officers allegedly found 2.4 grams of the notorious South American drug along with three weighing scales and 104 little bags to separate the powder.

Officers said they also seized methamphetamine and crystal meth. Father-of-one Stephen also allegedly tested positive for methamphetamine.

Cocaine dealing carries a minimum term of 20 years and a maximum of life, while possession of the other two is 10 years inside.

The arrest comes amid a spate of foreigners being arrested for drugs and violence, with immigration officials now vowing to tighten checks.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Kornphon Liangboonjinda, Deputy Superintendent of the Karon district police station, said: 'Officers received an anonymous complaint that there was a group of foreigners causing a disturbance by regularly partying in a room at the hotel called Just a Puff.

‘Police went to check the room and Stephen was shocked and behaving suspiciously.

'When we entered we found cocaine and methamphetamine in a black bag, along with three digital weighing apparatus and his passport in a grey bag. All were in his luggage. Plus, there were 104 little bags for separating drugs on his table.'

Speaking today, the policeman said that Stephen admitted all the drugs belonged to him.

He was charged with selling cocaine - a category 2 banned substance that carries minimum prison terms of 20 years and a maximum of life.

Officers also charged Stephen with possession of category 1 methamphetamine and ice. Possession has a maximum term of 10 years behind bars and police believe the quantities found were not enough for a dealing charge - which carries the death penalty as a maximum punishment.

The cop added: ‘Foreigners think it's easy to sell drugs. But it's also easy for us to catch them.

‘They should enjoy their holiday without breaking the law.'

Police chiefs said today that foreigners will be under extra scrutiny following a string of arrests.

Roy Ingpairoj, deputy chief of the Royal Thai Police, said he had told the Commissioner of Immigration to carry out extra checks on foreigners who appeared to have nefarious motives for visiting the country.

Stephen, who is waiting for a court appearance, is the fourth Brit arrested in recent weeks for alleged drug dealing.

Andrew John Brett, 36, was arrested on the island of Koh Tao on February 29 for allegedly peddling ecstasy and LSD to other tourists.

While on March 3, Peter Hull, 44, was allegedly caught with cocaine and ecstasy in his room on the island of Koh Samui.

Brit Charly Garcia, 48, from London, was arrested on March 12 for allegedly selling cocaine, ecstasy and other narcotics to tourists via the Telegram app in Chiang Mai.