Aliens top gambling in arrest figures

PHUKET: Illegal immigrants topped the arrests statistics last month, with 421 people caught in raids from March 1 to 24, according to the latest figures released by police. Gambling dropped from its customary number-one spot, with 273 arrested in 91 raids, up from 176 arrests made in 82 raids during for the same period in February. Arrests for drug-related offences also rose, with 189 being made in 174 raids, compared with February’s figure of 120 arrests. Although the figure of 54 arrests involving ya bah (methamphetamine) is comparable to the February figure of 48, police seized 2,180 pills in March – more than four times the 512 pills seized in the previous month. Arrests for prostitution fell more than 60% with 18 arrests, compared with 47 for the same period in February. Two murders were reported during the period, with one arrest being made, and five attempted murders of which one was solved. One rape was reported with no arrest being made. In addition, there were 16 arrests for assault, 10 for fraud, and four from seven reported motorcycle thefts.