Phuket drug cases up 161%

PHUKET: Crime statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police for September show that wet weather has not put a damper on recreational drug use, as narcotics-related cases were up 161%.

There were 230 drug cases reported over the period, an increase of 161.4% year-on-year.

Police arrested 250 people and confiscated a wide variety of narcotics, including 5,271 ya bah (methamphetamine) pills.

Also confiscated were five Alprazolam (trade name Xanax) pills, which are classified as a schedule IV controlled substance under Thai law, but which are illegally sold by some Phuket pharmacies without a prescription.

There were also four murders reported in September 2009, with one arrest.

In other violent crimes, there were 13 cases of assault with nine arrests, as well as five cases of attempted murder, with two arrests.

There were 96 cases of prostitution-related offenses reported, up 33.3% year-on-year.

Arrests were made in every case, according to police.

Police reported 11 cases of motorbike theft for the period, with 10 arrests.

There were 43 cases of gambling reported (-36.8%), with 107 arrests.

Reported cases related to involvement in the underground lottery, which are tabulated separately, were down just over 50%, with 15 people arrested in 15 cases.

— Atchaa Khamlo