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PHUKET: Surprise raids are to be conducted on three Russian businesses in and around Soi Bangla, a senior Phuket official forecast yesterday.
Director of Kathu District, Veera Kerdsirimongkol, said that the raids would be mounted because he was anxious to make sure there were no illegal Russian businesses in Patong.
He knew there were three Russian businesses operating in and around Soi Bangla and has decided it's almost time to pay them a visit.
Agitation by residents and local businesses in two other Phuket regions, Karon and Bang Tao, has seen some Russian-run businesses close down while others have proven to be above board.
Khun Veera, two months into his role as the senior official in Kathu, one of three Phuket districts - and the one that oversees Patong - has adopted an uncompromising approach.
He has lifted the number of Kathu district volunteers from 10 to 50 and organised with Patong police to hold mobile checkpoints at the weekend, during Phuket Bike Week.
On Saturday a man pulled a gun at a beachfront concert by singer Carabao and was immediately arrested.
''He was in an argument with a tourist,'' Khun Veera said. ''Shooting tourists is not something we would like to see.''
Khun Veera said the man claimed he was the son of a police superintendent from another province but Khun Veera ordered that he be taken to Kathu Police Station regardless.
''I have been expected to get a telephone call but haven't heard,'' Khun Veera said. ''Perhaps the young man was exaggerating a little.''
Khun Veera said that since he arrived on Phuket, touts with five slow lorises and two iguanas had been arrested in Soi Bangla.
Phuketwan spotted one iguana on the head of a young tourist, being photographed by a tout, on a late-night stroll at the weekend.
''We hear there's one more iguana,'' Khun Veers said. ''We will be trying to get that one off the street, too.''
The director led a swoop on Soi Happy Road in Patong last week that saw arrests after positive drug tests and the apprehension of one underage sex worker. Three other underage workers were found in bars
Khun Veera says he intends to show no tolerance to drugs or weapons and aims to make Kathu as law-abiding as possible.
Director of Kathu District, Veera Kerdsirimongkol, said that the raids would be mounted because he was anxious to make sure there were no illegal Russian businesses in Patong.
He knew there were three Russian businesses operating in and around Soi Bangla and has decided it's almost time to pay them a visit.
Agitation by residents and local businesses in two other Phuket regions, Karon and Bang Tao, has seen some Russian-run businesses close down while others have proven to be above board.
Khun Veera, two months into his role as the senior official in Kathu, one of three Phuket districts - and the one that oversees Patong - has adopted an uncompromising approach.
He has lifted the number of Kathu district volunteers from 10 to 50 and organised with Patong police to hold mobile checkpoints at the weekend, during Phuket Bike Week.
On Saturday a man pulled a gun at a beachfront concert by singer Carabao and was immediately arrested.
''He was in an argument with a tourist,'' Khun Veera said. ''Shooting tourists is not something we would like to see.''
Khun Veera said the man claimed he was the son of a police superintendent from another province but Khun Veera ordered that he be taken to Kathu Police Station regardless.
''I have been expected to get a telephone call but haven't heard,'' Khun Veera said. ''Perhaps the young man was exaggerating a little.''
Khun Veera said that since he arrived on Phuket, touts with five slow lorises and two iguanas had been arrested in Soi Bangla.
Phuketwan spotted one iguana on the head of a young tourist, being photographed by a tout, on a late-night stroll at the weekend.
''We hear there's one more iguana,'' Khun Veers said. ''We will be trying to get that one off the street, too.''
The director led a swoop on Soi Happy Road in Patong last week that saw arrests after positive drug tests and the apprehension of one underage sex worker. Three other underage workers were found in bars
Khun Veera says he intends to show no tolerance to drugs or weapons and aims to make Kathu as law-abiding as possible.
I wish Khun Veera good luck in making Kathu "as law abiding as possible" whatever that means ;-)
Posted by Sailor on April 23, 2013 17:44