Kathu Police dismantle dozens of illegal taxi ranks in Phuket

[Lite Beer]

Kathu Police dismantle dozens of illegal taxi ranks in Phuket

Suthicha Sirirat

PHUKET: A 150-strong task force, comprising both police officers and government officials from Kathu and Patong this afternoon could be spotted dismantling dozens of illegal taxi ranks in Phuket today and yesterday.

The force, comprising both police officers and government officials, were led by Patong Mayor Chalermlak Kedsab and Phuket Deputy Governer Chamroen Thipayapongthada.

The Phuket News was notified today by readers of raids taking place around Kalim Bay today.

Police confirmed that there were three raids there as part of many taking place today and yesterday (June 6).

UPDATE: In a subsequent interview, Kathu Police clarified that the 16 ranks initially reported were only the initial "survey" targets, but during their inspections they became aware of a total of 26 sites all of were dismantled yesterday and today (June 6-7).

Kathu Police instructed Patong Municipality to inform them immediately of any other cases invasion of public spaces for personal/private benefit.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/seven-of-16-target-illegal-taxi-ranks-dismantled-in-phuket-46725.php?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

-- Phuket News 2014-06-07

[JesseFrank]

Remarkable that police now at once can enforce the law, and have in the past 15 days solved more crimes than in the past 15 years.

[TVGerry]

And the clean up continues! Army keeping its promise! Bravo!

[Confuscious]

This is not going to end well.

Removing mass of properties by Police and Officials without trying to get a solution to this matter by peaceful means.

Anger creates anger.

Buddhists know this very well.

First letting the taxi (maffia) carry on with their illegal activities for many years and even legalize them by the Governor and then all the sudden destroy everything.

Hope that the Police and the Governor are wearing very lucky amulets.

[rebelplatoon]

So far so good. Getting lots done in no time at all. Now is a good time to cancel curfew?

[JesseFrank]

This is not going to end well.

Removing mass of properties by Police and Officials without trying to get a solution to this matter by peaceful means.

Anger creates anger.

Buddhists know this very well.

First letting the taxi (maffia) carry on with their illegal activities for many years and even legalize them by the Governor and then all the sudden destroy everything.

Hope that the Police and the Governor are wearing very lucky amulets.

Maybe the governor needs a lucky travel pass in stead of an amulet, as he may be the next one that has to travel to his new location.

[TVGerry]

This is not going to end well.

Removing mass of properties by Police and Officials without trying to get a solution to this matter by peaceful means.

Anger creates anger.

Buddhists know this very well.

First letting the taxi (maffia) carry on with their illegal activities for many years and even legalize them by the Governor and then all the sudden destroy everything.

Hope that the Police and the Governor are wearing very lucky amulets.

I doubt no matter how dangerous these criminals are, they would dare take on the army. Good luck to any fool who decides to hurt a government official when the country's under martial law.

[NeverSure]

Did they dismantle 26 of those by hand? I wonder what they did with them?

Where's the backhoe to rip them to shreds and load them into dump trucks? (No not the taxi drivers, but...)

[I Like Thai]

Eventually martial law will finish, new elections will be held, then everything will go back to abnormal again

[Foxter]

Are the police doing more since the coup , or are there just more posts ?

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand

[Bucko]

Any chance of an inter-beach bus service yet ?--

would be so nice to be able to have days out at various places at my own leisure-and not be at the mercy of the taxi drivers--or have to go into Phuket City-and out again to get to another beach--and also watching the clock to make sure not to miss the last bus back--which by memory is about 6pm ??? --cant even stay for an evening meal if I am enjoying the place I am at --But I won't hold by breath

[spidermike007]

This is not going to end well.

Removing mass of properties by Police and Officials without trying to get a solution to this matter by peaceful means.

Anger creates anger.

Buddhists know this very well.

First letting the taxi (maffia) carry on with their illegal activities for many years and even legalize them by the Governor and then all the sudden destroy everything.

Hope that the Police and the Governor are wearing very lucky amulets.

I doubt no matter how dangerous these criminals are, they would dare take on the army. Good luck to any fool who decides to hurt a government official when the country's under martial law.

Who is afraid of an insect anyway? These cockroaches have been inflicting disease on this land for decades. Both Abhisit and the Yingluck were far too weak to take them on. Doing the right thing was not in either of them. So, the army is attempting to clean things up. These punks would not even consider taking on the army. Kudos to Prayuth for clearing out the insects.

Sent from my SM-N900V using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[craigt3365]

These guys are the reason I've vowed never to visit Phuket again, I've had several bad experiences with these criminals in the past. Nothing like being threatened by a criminal when all you are doing is trying to either get a ride or park your car.

Congrats to the army for taking some more positive steps. Let's just hope they've got the courage to keep these guys operating within the law.

[Roel]

Remarkable that police now at once can enforce the law, and have in the past 15 days solved more crimes than in the past 15 years.

That is the difference between getting paid by the mafia to do nothing or being ordered to act by the military under martial law.

[Valentine]

The name of one of the taxi leaders is the same as a once powerful Patong family, maybe they still are. IMO when they were in power that was the beginning of the end for Patong in terms of losing the chance to create proper blueprint for the future development of Patong.

[djhotsox]

Ya know, I kinda like this General .....maybe they should make him PM after he retires!

[steelepulse]

The name of one of the taxi leaders is the same as a once powerful Patong family, maybe they still are. IMO when they were in power that was the beginning of the end for Patong in terms of losing the chance to create proper blueprint for the future development of Patong.

Correct, ever since the Keesin clan was in power Patong has been on a steep downhill slope, although they have shown the world they are doing well with the announcement of all of their new private projects. Perhaps they should have been a little more low key.

[somchaismith]

Cherish it while it lasts.

[Valentine]

The name of one of the taxi leaders is the same as a once powerful Patong family, maybe they still are. IMO when they were in power that was the beginning of the end for Patong in terms of losing the chance to create proper blueprint for the future development of Patong.

Correct, ever since the Keesin clan was in power Patong has been on a steep downhill slope, although they have shown the world they are doing well with the announcement of all of their new private projects. Perhaps they should have been a little more low key.

I was actually referring to the family before them. See the article in PG http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Kalim-residents-beg-police-have-mercy-taxi/30737#ad-image-0

[steelepulse]

The name of one of the taxi leaders is the same as a once powerful Patong family, maybe they still are. IMO when they were in power that was the beginning of the end for Patong in terms of losing the chance to create proper blueprint for the future development of Patong.

Correct, ever since the Keesin clan was in power Patong has been on a steep downhill slope, although they have shown the world they are doing well with the announcement of all of their new private projects. Perhaps they should have been a little more low key.

I was actually referring to the family before them. See the article in PG http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket-news/Kalim-residents-beg-police-have-mercy-taxi/30737#ad-image-0

Gotcha, funny though they that mention the "permission" from Pian. I wonder what the monthly "permission" rate was?

[kennypowers]

But what of the officers who've amassed a fortune over the years taking protection money for these guys to operate. We have a tendency to punish the wrong people. Most of these taxi drivers are paying a lot of money to a mafia boss, who is probably linked to one of the families that run the island, who then pay off local police and government officials. The guys driving the taxis are hardly living in mansions with private healthcare and their kids at international schools, are they?

It's like the war on drugs; arresting some piss poor man with a kilo of whatever, who took a stupid risk to better the life of his family, locking him up for 30 years and saying you're cleaning up the streets.

The truth is, you can't investigate the real criminals. You can't get to the top of the food chain. Why? Because once you peel back the layers, it will lead you straight to City Hall, if you get my meaning.

[grumpyoldman]

In my hood, I see them dismantling the stands, and actually burning the remnants, but the taxi guys themselves are just moving across the road, or up the street a little to the next cement table with shop still open.

Also, it's an angry lot, wouldn't advise looking at any of these guys sideways.

[steelepulse]

But what of the officers who've amassed a fortune over the years taking protection money for these guys to operate. We have a tendency to punish the wrong people. Most of these taxi drivers are paying a lot of money to a mafia boss, who is probably linked to one of the families that run the island, who then pay off local police and government officials. The guys driving the taxis are hardly living in mansions with private healthcare and their kids at international schools, are they?

It's like the war on drugs; arresting some piss poor man with a kilo of whatever, who took a stupid risk to better the life of his family, locking him up for 30 years and saying you're cleaning up the streets.

The truth is, you can't investigate the real criminals. You can't get to the top of the food chain. Why? Because once you peel back the layers, it will lead you straight to City Hall, if you get my meaning.

Actually, if you've been following, they did discover that one taxi driver has 100 million baht in the bank with no valid explanation, and in addition, the police will be talking to the ex mayor of Patong who just happens to control the taxi ranks in Patong via his son.

[Stokakrishna]

funny . some of you ccomplain about the taxi mafia, while otherbconplain about getting rid of them.

to those who omplain about taking the ranks down: get a job or do something meaningful intead of constant complains.

seems most TV members are just like old women who do nothing other than complain.

those taxi driversvwho do not live in mansions and pay lots of money to th mafia are fully aware they do illegal stuff.

they could get normal job if they wanted to.

but the chose to do this, and live of cheating tourists who are forced to pay insane crazy prices for taxis

[stevenl]

funny . some of you ccomplain about the taxi mafia, while otherbconplain about getting rid of them.

to those who omplain about taking the ranks down: get a job or do something meaningful intead of constant complains.

seems most TV members are just like old women who do nothing other than complain.

those taxi driversvwho do not live in mansions and pay lots of money to th mafia are fully aware they do illegal stuff.

they could get normal job if they wanted to.

but the chose to do this, and live of cheating tourists who are forced to pay insane crazy prices for taxis

The present actions have IMO nothing to do with 'getting rid of the mafia'.

So far I have seen 2 parts: 1. arrest warrants issued for just a small part of the drivers because of intimidation and other illegal acts, not because of 'being part of a mafia'; and 2. tearing down their salas where they were on community land.

It looks to me the present government is trying to decrease corruption and end illegal behaviour, but is leaving the transport issues to the local governments.

[rickirs]

In some parts of the world where there are popular beachfronts you have free or almost free shuttles as a service to beachgoers and tourists. Rather than trying to police pirate taxi service of any kind and contributing to traffic congestion, such shuttles would eventually choke off pirate taxi service through lack of competitiveness.

[LivinginKata]

In some parts of the world where there are popular beachfronts you have free or almost free shuttles as a service to beachgoers and tourists. Rather than trying to police pirate taxi service of any kind and contributing to traffic congestion, such shuttles would eventually choke off pirate taxi service through lack of competitiveness.

In this part of the world anyone who has tried a public transport service between hotel --> beach gets choked literally, I can only guess that those hotels/resorts offering free shuttle service from hotel to beach and back must be paying off the tuk tuk mafia to prevent any 'disruption' to their guest service..

[TVGerry]

funny . some of you ccomplain about the taxi mafia, while otherbconplain about getting rid of them.

to those who omplain about taking the ranks down: get a job or do something meaningful intead of constant complains.

seems most TV members are just like old women who do nothing other than complain.

those taxi driversvwho do not live in mansions and pay lots of money to th mafia are fully aware they do illegal stuff.

they could get normal job if they wanted to.

but the chose to do this, and live of cheating tourists who are forced to pay insane crazy prices for taxis

Well you're complaining about TV members complaining so you're no better!

[Dap]

This is not going to end well.

Removing mass of properties by Police and Officials without trying to get a solution to this matter by peaceful means.

Anger creates anger.

Buddhists know this very well.

First letting the taxi (maffia) carry on with their illegal activities for many years and even legalize them by the Governor and then all the sudden destroy everything.

Hope that the Police and the Governor are wearing very lucky amulets.

It's way overdue. SHUT Em down NOW.

No need to be nice.

They have ALL overstayed.

The "old" system is gone ... get used to it!!!

[Benmart]

Eventually martial law will finish, new elections will be held, then everything will go back to abnormal again

May I borrow your crystal ball? I want to see how my investment portfolio will be doing, where I will be in 10 years and how this story turns out.

And here I was doing it the old-fashioned way, which is experience the present, then call it history. Not, foresee the future and present it as having already happened.

Thanks.

Edited June 8, 2014 by Benmart