Prison stuffed with drug offenders

PHUKET TOWN: Statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Prison this week show that more than half of the prison population consists of narcotics offenders or those awaiting trial on drug-related charges. Among the 1,180 prisoners, 506 men and 109 women are in for narcotics offenses. Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, Superintendent of the Phuket Town Police Station, told the Gazette today, “The number of drug-related crimes is increasing every day, forcing the police to arrest more people. However, this doesn’t appear to have slowed the number of people using drugs.” Of the remaining prisoners, 214 inmates are in for theft; 140 for murder or attempted murder; 42 for sexual assault or prostitution; 19 for assault; 15 for illegal immigration; and 35 for other offenses including weapons possession, forgery and arson.