Search Results for: illegal drug activities

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette Thailand News: Court drops Lese Majeste; Police deny beating Lak Si shooter; Bt3bn Australia-bound heroin bust in Ranong; Activists slam Thai seafood slavery

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Court drops Lese Majeste; Police deny beating Lak Si shooter; Bt3bn Australia-bound heroin bust in Ranong; Activists slam Thai seafood slavery

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Court drops Lese Majeste case over lack of strong proof The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: The Court of Appeal gave an alleged lese majeste offender the benefit of the doubt yesterday and acquitted him after the man’s computer notebook – confiscated by police – was…

  • OpinionHelping youngsters to get back on the right track

    Helping youngsters to get back on the right track

    Chatree Taveesup, 47, is a Krabi native who graduated from the Faculty of Law at Ramkhamhaeng University in 1989. He worked at Juvenile Observation and Protection Centers in Songkhla, Phang Nga and Yala before becoming Director of the Juvenile Center in Phuket in 2012. Here, he talks about the problem of juvenile crime in Phuket and suggests ways to deal…

  • Phuket NewsPolice ordered to carry out weekend blitz on crime

    Police ordered to carry out weekend blitz on crime

    PHUKET: One of Thailand’s top-ranking police officers has ordered Phuket law-enforcement authorities to ramp up their crackdown on all forms of crime over the weekend as part of a blitz to improve tourists’ confidence in safety. Gen Wuthi Liptapallop, a national-level adviser to the Royal Thai Police, was in Phuket yesterday to review progress made in the island-wide crackdown launched…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket officials inspect suspected land encroachment behind Boat Lagoon

    Phuket officials inspect suspected land encroachment behind Boat Lagoon

    PHUKET: A sortie of officials yesterday inspected the site of alleged land encroachment along the banks of the canal that provides access to Boat Lagoon Marina in Koh Kaew.The team of about 20 officers led by Phuket Vice Governor Somkiet Sangkaosuttirak arrived at the site in response to an anonymous complaint received by the Damrongtham Center (Ombudsman’s Office) on July…

  • OpinionPhuket Opinion: Not backing down in Phuket’s edgiest district

    Phuket Opinion: Not backing down in Phuket’s edgiest district

    Veera Kerdsirimongkol, 57, originally from Nakhon Si Thammarat, has been District Chief of Kathu for four months. He was a district chief for 13 years before coming to Phuket, most recently in Palian, Trang. He has a master’s degree in Management Sciences from Prince of Songkla University. Here, he talks about what he has done to stop illegal activity in…

  • Thailand NewsPhuket Gazette Thailand News: Airports on bomb alert; AEC opportunity for organized crime; Blast kills one in Pattani

    Phuket Gazette Thailand News: Airports on bomb alert; AEC opportunity for organized crime; Blast kills one in Pattani

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – Thailand news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community Airports on alert after US bombings The Nation / Phuket Gazette PHUKET: Security at Thailand’s major airports will be stepped up following the Boston Marathon bombings, according to a senior executive of Airports of Thailand. Pongsak Semsant, caretaker president of AOT, said yesterday the latest violent…

  • Phuket NewsMyanmar Navy makes historic visit to Phuket

    Myanmar Navy makes historic visit to Phuket

    PHUKET: Under a tight program, Capt Aung Zaw Hlaing, Commander of Myanmar Number 1 Fleet, still made time for an exclusive interview with the Phuket Gazette during the navy’s historic first diplomatic visit to a foreign country (click here for story). “We are very pleased to be here. It is the first time our ships have visited Thailand,” Capt Hlaing…

  • Cannabis NewsPhuket Gazette: Central America most violent; U.S. Coast Guard crash; Hackers arrested

    Phuket Gazette: Central America most violent; U.S. Coast Guard crash; Hackers arrested

    PHUKET MEDIA WATCH – World news compiled by Gazette editors for Phuket’s international community UN describes Central America as world’s most violent area, and the U.S. the biggest drug market PHUKET (News Wires): The United Nations (UN) on Tuesday described Central America as one of the most violent areas in the world as drug-related violence continues to rise, signaling the…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket meth users hooked by cosmetic claims

    Phuket meth users hooked by cosmetic claims

    PHUKET: Crystal meth dealers in Phuket are attracting new users by claiming the drug has cosmetic benefits. Doctors say that although the stimulant may cause some changes in a user’s physical appearance, it is far from the desired effect. Concerned about a rise in the use of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in Phuket and nearby provinces, police and health officials…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket meth dealers launch ‘white skin’ campaign

    Phuket meth dealers launch ‘white skin’ campaign

    PHUKET: Police are concerned about a rise in the use of ya ice (crystal methamphetamine) in Phuket and nearby provinces, and say drug dealers are falsely touting the powerful stimulant as a skin whitening agent to lure in new users. Pramote Phumprakun, superintendent of Narcotics Suppression Bureau Division (NSBD) precinct responsible for the Upper South, described the ya ice problem…

  • Phuket NewsPhuket fireworks crackdown during Loy Krathong festival

    Phuket fireworks crackdown during Loy Krathong festival

    PHUKET: The Phuket Provincial Police chief has ordered an island-wide crime crackdown during Loy Krathong celebrations, with police to set up checkpoints in key areas to prevent criminal activities, including illegal use of fireworks. Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Pekad Tantipong said the Loy Krathong festival was an important and beautiful Thai cultural tradition worth preserving. As a…

  • Phuket NewsThai Navy reveals arrest record at Phuket base | Thaiger

    Thai Navy reveals arrest record at Phuket base

    PHUKET: Statistics announced by the Royal Thai Navy Third Area Command for its fleet operations in the Andaman Sea during the first eight months of 2010 show a remarkably low number of arrests for smuggling and illegal fishing over the period. The figures were revealed during a meeting at the Marine Operations Coordination Center, chaired by Royal Navy Third Fleet…

  • Phuket NewsPatong nightspots under curfew scrutiny

    Patong nightspots under curfew scrutiny

    PATONG, PHUKET: Following many reports that certain nightlife establishments in Patong are not closing by the mandatory 2am curfew, the Phuket’s governor and the island’s top police officer say the situation is being closely monitored. This follows a report in a local Thai language newspaper that three unspecified nightclubs were habitually operating until 6am. At a meeting at Phuket Provincial…

  • Phuket NewsLabor camp raided near Mai Khao | Thaiger

    Labor camp raided near Mai Khao

    TAH CHAT CHAI: Some 50 police and local villagers raided a laborers’ camp beside a construction site near Mai Khao Beach Tuesday morning, taking into custody 82 male workers on charges of illegal entry into the Kingdom. As is commonly the case when such raids take place in Phuket, no employer was found or charged. Pol Lt Col Jamroon Plaiduong…

  • Phuket NewsSecret list of “influential people’ drawn up | Thaiger

    Secret list of “influential people’ drawn up

    PHUKET: A confidential blacklist of “influential people” in Phuket’s criminal underworld has been drawn up as part of a nationwide government campaign to monitor individuals who “pose a threat to society”.Phuket Vice-Governor Tri Augkaradacha yesterday met senior provincial officers at Provincial Hall to finalize the list before sending it to Phuket Governor Niran Kalayanamit for approval.The final list was compiled…

  • Phuket NewsAmsterdam murders trigger Phuket raid | Thaiger

    Amsterdam murders trigger Phuket raid

    CHALONG: A Bangkok-based Dutch police officer joined four Drug Suppression Unit officers in a weekend raid on the Phuket home of a Dutchman who was murdered in Amsterdam and was suspected of involvement in the international illegal drugs trade. Saturday’s 6 am raid on the home of Jules Leo Jie at Land and Houses Park led to the discovery of…

  • Phuket NewsThais urged to battle corruption | Thaiger

    Thais urged to battle corruption

    PHUKET TOWN: Thai people should be more aware of corruption, a workshop to promote ethics in the community was told today. “There should be regular corruption inspections and investigations,” Pongthep Thepkarnjana, Minister to the Prime Minister’s Office, told the 500 people who attended the day-long gathering at the Royal Phuket City Hotel. K. Pongthep, who is also Vice Chairman of…

  • Phuket News60,000 nabbed in clean-up | Thaiger

    60,000 nabbed in clean-up

    BANGKOK (AFP): Almost 60,000 people were arrested in the first three months of the ongoing crackdown on Bangkok’s after-hours nightspots, brothels and gambling dens, police said today. Thai police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said the crackdown had resulted in 24,867 cases involving 58,894 people. Some 8,621 people were caught betting in Thailand’s huge underground lottery while 540 people were busted for…

  • Phuket NewsNightclub owners reminded to close tonight | Thaiger

    Nightclub owners reminded to close tonight

    PHUKET TOWN: The chief of police in Muang District, Pol Col Paween Pongsirin, yesterday chaired a meeting attended by 75 owners of entertainment venues, at which he reminded them that no one may sell alcohol today, HM The King’s Birthday, and that the only evening venues that may open are restaurants. Col Paween, the Superintendent of the Phuket Town Police…

  • Phuket NewsPolice step up fight against foreign gangs | Thaiger

    Police step up fight against foreign gangs

    PHUKET: Phuket Immigration Police will step up surveillance on suspected foreign criminals in order to minimize organized crime, Pol Col Apirak Hongtong, Superintendent of Phuket Immigration Police, has told the Gazette. He singled out Nigeria as a consistent source of criminals, with a large number of Nigerians having been arrested for involvement in such crimes as drug running and fraud.…