Gambling again crowns Phuket’s arrests inventory

PHUKET: Statistics released by the Phuket Provincial Police again show gambling as the crime category with the highest number of arrests.

Between February 1 and 21, 249 people were busted for gambling-related offenses; 24 of these cases involved the sale of illegal lottery tickets.

There were nine cases of attempted murder, with five arrests made. Two murders were reported during the period, with one case solved.

There were 54 reports of theft, with three people charged with snatch-and-run crimes. Three cars and one motorcycle were reported stolen.

Fifty-nine people were arrested on drug related charges; 28 of these for offenses related to ya bah (methamphetamine), with 1,058 pills seized.

There were 20 arrests for sniffing glue or paint thinners; eight for possession of marijuana; and three for possession of krathom, an indigenous plant that has a stimulant effect.

Eighty-three people were arrested for working illegally and 29 were arrested for offenses related to prostitution.

Five people were arrested for possession of unlicensed firearms.