Fall in arrests of illegal workers

PHUKET: The latest crime statistics issued by the police, for the period from September 1 to 24, show the number of arrests of illegal immigrants dropping dramatically to 47 compared with 230 in the same period in August. The decrease is largely a result of the current Employment Services Office drive to register all foreign workers on the island. Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of Phuket Town Police Station, said, “We were ordered by the Ministry of Interior to stop raids to catch foreign workers until October 13 while registrations are being processed.” But, he warned, “We will start conducting raids again after October 13.” Gambling arrests, at 214, still topped the arrest statistics during the period, followed by drug-related arrests. A total of 91 people were arrested on narcotics charges, of whom 41 were held for offences involving ya bah (methamphetamine). Police seized 1,301.5 tablets of the drug. Three murders were reported in the period, of which one was solved, with one man being arrested. There were also three attempted murders, with arrests in all three cases; four arrests for rape and 14 for prostitution.