Gambling tops crime stats in January

PHUKET: Police statistics for January 1-25 reveal that gambling is still the island’s number one crime, with 147 arrests for the period in 69 cases. This figure is down significantly from the same period last year, however, when 180 arrests were reported. Drug-related offenses were the second most common crime for the period, with 117 arrests in 114 cases. The number of arrests was almost double the same period in December 2002, when only 61 arrests were made, reflecting the harder line being taken by the government. The January figure included 54 people held in cases involving ya bah (methamphetamine), with 405 ya bah pills seized. There were three murder cases in January, one of which was solved. There were also four attempted murders and one rape. A total of 35 people were arrested as illegal aliens. This was less than half the number of immigration arrests in December, when 93 foreigners were taken into custody. Sixty-three people were arrested for theft or possession of stolen property, including stolen vehicles. Thirty-one people were arrested for prostitution offenses and 12 for possession of unlicensed firearms.