Rise in seizures of illegal guns

PHUKET: Nineteen people were arrested in Phuket for illegal possession of firearms from May 1 to May 25, according to statistics from the Provincial Police, released soon after Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra launched a nationwide crackdown on organized crime on May 20. However, the figures for May revealed a similar number of drug-related raids and arrests as in the same period last year, despite the continuation of the anti-drugs campaign that began in February. Ninety-five offenders were held in 78 cases, compared with 88 arrests in 79 cases last year. Of this May’s figures, 11 cases involved ya bah (methamphetamine), resulting in 10 arrests and the seizure of 71 pills. There were 96 raids and 221 arrests for gambling, including soccer gambling and illegal lotteries, compared with 198 arrests in 106 raids last May. The number of illegal immigrants arrested dipped from 75 to 61. There were 12 arrests for prostitution and three cases of rape were reported, though there have so far been no arrests. Three murders were reported, with two arrests being made, while six people were charged in eight cases of attempted murder. Eight cases of assault resulting in bodily harm produced four arrests. There were 76 cases of burglary, purse-snatching, fraud, extortion and similar offenses, with 39 arrests