An Irish fugitive cried as he was caught by police while living in luxury in a party hotspot in southern Thailand.

Lee James Coleman, 25, was arrested by immigration officers at his cannabis dispensary on the backpacker trail of Krabi on June 26.

Police said the tourist from County Louth was wanted for a litany of crimes including drug trafficking, assault, and money laundering charges in his homeland.

He was said to have fled to Thailand, where he opened a lucrative marijuana shop called 'Breaking Bad Budz' in the humid south of the country.

Thai authorities placed Lee under surveillance following a request from Irish police. They confirmed his identity before swooping in on his shop to arrest him on Thursday.

Footage shows the terrified tourist curling in on himself as he was cuffed by police. He sat crying on the floor, exclaiming: 'I no do nothing, I no do nothing. No show me police.'

Police Colonel Sorathat Iamla-or, superintendent of Krabi Immigration, said Lee was found to have overstayed in Thailand for 415 days.

He said: 'The suspect was charged with overstaying, which he acknowledged.

‘We handed him over to the inquiry officer of Mueang Krabi Police Station for legal action according to Thai law. We also coordinated with the embassy for him to be extradited to Ireland.'

Lee was detained in police custody pending deportation.

Officials said Lee was facing a raft of charges at home including drug dealing, violence, assault, money laundering, theft, firearm possession, illegal detention, traffic violations, and public disorder.