DSI called in to tackle taxis and raid foreign businesses

PHUKET: A Department of Special Investigation (DSI) task force will arrive in Phuket next week to carry out raids and arrest illegal taxi drivers and foreign business operators found breaking the law.

The officers, expected to arrive on Thursday for a two-day campaign, will target taxi drivers at Phuket International Airport and businesses suspected of using Thai nominees.

The news follows Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak’s visit last Wednesday to the DSI’s headquarters in Bangkok to seek assistance in curtailing what he called “mafia gangs” operating on the island.

Minister Somsak also specifically identified Russians as a target group who hired Thais as nominees to run restaurants, souvenir shops and beach-bed rental services that had exploited tourists.

DSI chief Tarit Pengdith said he would rally his officers to take up the challenge before month’s end.

“We have been gathering information for some time. We have found that in some cases the mafia gangs have even barred ambulances from picking up patients at hotels. The patients were made to take unlicensed-taxi rides,” Mr Tarit said.

Lt Col Somboon Sarasit, head of the DSI’s Bureau of Special Crime Unit 3, told the Phuket Gazette that Minister Somsak and DSI officers will begin by targeting illegal taxi drivers on July 25.

“We received complaints from foreign tourists and some embassies that many illegal taxi drivers at the airport take advantage of tourists by forcing them to use their taxis and overcharging them,” he said.

“We will also call in officers from the relevant organizations to assist in following up on illegal foreign businesses using Thai nominees. We will hold a meeting at Phuket Provincial Hall on Thursday,” Col Somboon explained.

“The day after that, we will raid illegal foreign-owned businesses. However, I cannot say which area we will target first. We will reveal more information at the meeting at Provincial Hall,” he said.

Additional reporting by The Nation

— Orawin Narabal