Gambling trumps other arrests – again

PHUKET: Statistics released by Phuket Provincial Police show that gambling came out trumps, once again topping the arrests table between January 1 and 25, with 168 people nabbed for gambling-related offenses. Thirty-two cases involved the sale of illegal underground lottery tickets.

Three murders were reported during the period, with two cases solved. There were five cases of attempted murder, and in four of these arrests were made.

There were 35 reports of theft, with two people charged with snatch-and-run crimes. Nine people were arrested for possessing unlicensed firearms.

Sixty-six people were arrested for illegal possession of controlled substances.

Of these, 15 were charged with possessing a combined total of 279 ya bah (methamphetamine) tablets, 24 for marijuana possession, 26 for sniffing glue or paint thinners, and one for possession of krathom (an indigenous Thai plant that acts as a stimulant).

Forty-six people were arrested for offenses related to prostitution.

Two motorcycles were stolen, with two people subsequently charged. One car was also reported stolen.