Fraud on the rise in Phuket

PHUKET: While gambling remains Phuket’s top vice, white-collar crime seems to be on the rise with 14 cases of fraud reported with five arrests made, and 10 cases of embezzlement with two arrests made.

From November 1 to 30, 188 people were arrested for gambling offenses with 39 of those coming from the sale of illegal lottery tickets.

Three murders were reported, with two arrests made; three reports of rape, with one arrest; 10 cases of attempted murder, with five arrests; and 23 cases of assault with 18 people arrested.

There were four reports of snatch thefts with four suspects apprehended.

Thirteen motorcycles were reported stolen, with nine suspects arrested, but not one car was reported missing in November.

There were 114 drug-related cases in which 131 people were arrested. Forty-nine of those cases involved ya bah (methamphetamine), with 65 suspects arrested and 9,904.5 pills seized.

Twenty people were arrested for glue sniffing and other forms of substance abuse, 39 for possession of marijuana and two for possession of Ecstasy. Five people were arrested for possession of krathom, with 530 leaves seized – 35 times the volume seized last month.

Police also arrested 69 people for offenses related to prostitution and five for the possession and distribution of pornographic materials.

Twenty-three people were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms.