Foreign Tour Operators Flood Phuket, Taking Jobs from Locals

[Lite Beer]

Patong police net weapons, cards and kratom in second day of four-day crime sweep
Eakkapop Thongtub

PHUKET: As part of their four-day campaign – July 15 to 19 – to sweep Patong of crime, police last night (July 17) revealed their latest arrests and seizures which included a gun, a knife, two decks of cards, B500, several motorbikes and a small amount of kratom and cannabis.

A total of nine suspects were arrested in one raid at 4pm of the V6 Snooker Hall on Phra Meta Rd in Phuket's prime party town.

The first suspect, Mr Kuntachat Vibooncharoenphon, 40, was caught with possession of a .38 Colt pistol and six live rounds. Though the weapon was registered, the suspect charged for bringing a weapon into a town, village or public without necessary urgency.

Similarly, a second suspect, Mr Kunshit Rucksa, 34, was charged for having posession of a knife in town without any necessary urgency.

Seven more suspects, along with B500 and two decks of cards, were rounded up for playing rummy, forbidden by Thailand's Gambling Act.

Also yesterday, police were staking out a hillside hideaway off Phrabaramee Soi 7, where they believed a group of 7-8 teenagers were going to to take drugs in secret.

However, by the time police moved in for the bust, the teens had caught wind and fled by foot. At the hideout jungle shack police found a bushel of fresh kratom, a bottle of boiled kratom drink and remnants of cannabis on a cutting board. Police also discovered six abandoned motorbikes nearby and seized them to expand their investigation.

Source: http://www.thephuketnews.com/on-course-for-safety-53251.php

-- Phuket News 2015-07-18

[zaphod reborn]

I'm happy the Patong police are ridding their district of these dangerous criminals instead of protecting citizens and tourists from people who might kill or rob them, like drunk drivers and yaba addicts.

[Rykbanlor]

500 Baht, what a haul. Don't spend it all on one cop!

[Old Croc]

"Though the weapon was registered, the suspect charged for bringing a weapon into a town, village or public without necessary urgency."

One has to wonder how this "necessary urgency" would arise!

[Anthony5]

PHUKET: As part of their four-day campaign – July 15 to 19 – to sweep Patong of crime,

Bad luck for the guy, because 2 more days and everything would be fine.

[Valentine]

The police would be taken more seriously if they enforced crime 24/7 & actually arrest & charge some high level criminal no matter who they are or who their connections are.

[steelepulse]

The police would be taken more seriously if they enforced crime 24/7 & actually arrest & charge some high level criminal no matter who they are or who their connections are.

Indeed. However none of these guys wants to get sent to Nakon Nowhere with very little earnings. These guys paid a lot to get sent here, so they need to recoup their investment, and therein lies the problem.

[Oziex1]

If this guy was standing up with the others he would look just like one of them, they did arrest him and he is a street crim isn't he?

[jackanapes]

great stuff the police are definitely working very well arrested one man for carrying a registered gun and a man carrying a knife and failed to catch a bunch of teenagers supposedly participating in a drugs party but they did apprehend 6motorbikes and looking at the picture of the police I am surprised they caught anything there is one who is definitely overweight .

[Kannikapor88]

"4 day crime sweep" ... - and the remaining 361 days = nothing happening, killers on the Loose, robbers, taxi-mafia, jetski-scam, violence against tourists etc. etc. etc. Ignorance at its worst but they arrested someone for playing Rummy ... Really ... ???

[connda]

gun, a knife, two decks of cards, B500, several motorbikes and a small amount of kratom and cannabis.

You've got to be joking. Second highest death rate on the roads, and this is the focus of the BIB. Pathetic.

[cowboy country]

2 decks of cards and 500 baht...I don't know who looks sillier, the cops in the shot with the decks of cards or the person who wrote the title suggesting this was newsworthy...

Seriously this must be a joke, why don't they raid the chook fights or the boxing if gambling/playing cards are illegal...the whole world is laughing at your expense....Dumb and dumber..

[Whyamiandwhatamidoinghere]

Gotta get those lethal cards and magazines clips of Hearts, Spades, Diamonds and Clubs.

[terminatorchiangmai]

Bust of the century