50 arrested for night bike races

PHUKET TOWN: More than 100 police and volunteers led by Governor CEO Pongpayome Vasaputi busted up a gang of night-racing motorcyclists in a raid at the weekend. The large group of officers descended on Saphan Hin about 11pm on Saturday and surprised about 100 riders, arresting about half of them. Police organized the raid following complaints about the noise from the regular illegal race meetings, the potential danger, quarreling, fighting, gambling and suspicions of drug dealing. The arrested riders were fined 200 baht each and warned that penalties would be stiffer if they offended again. One dangerous weapon, a cutter, was confiscated.