Tourist Police arrest Thais collecting beach entrance fees in Phuket

The acting Immigration Bureau Chief Maj-Gen Surachate Hakparn has arrested two Thais who were collecting Phuket beach entrance fees yesterday.

Maj-Gen Surachate says, “We have arrested the pair who were collecting entrance fees for people to visit Freedom Beach. They were collecting the fees from Thais and foreigners.

Police have taken over a year to investigate and take legal action against these two suspects.”

“Freedom Beach is part of a National Park. No one is permitted to collect fees from visitors unless mandated by government.”

“They were asking for 200 baht per person to enter the beach area. They have been doing this for a year. They have been earning about 10,000 baht per day. Further legal action is being taken against them.”

The two people arrested are Thitiwan Srita and Maeta Sukwimut. Legal action has been taken against them for encroaching the Narkkerd Mountain Reserve Forest.