Ya bah arrests drop by 50pc

PHUKET: The number of people arrested between July1 to July 25 on charges related to ya bah (methamphetamine) was just 28, compared to 56 during the same period in June, according to the latest statistics released by police. Police last month arrested 123 people on narcotics charges in raids that netted 455 ya bah pills, compared with 153 arrests for drugs and 1,483.5 ya bah pills seized in June. Gambling remained the province’s number one vice with 202 people arrested in 102 raids. In June 192 people were arrested in 110 raids. Illegal aliens came in second, with 198 being arrested. Two murders were reported in the period, leading to one arrest. In addition, one arrest was made for attempted murder and two cases of manslaughter were reported, with police still to apprehend the perpetrators. The remaining arrests comprised one for rape, 14 for assault and 20 for prostitution.