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Photos of one youth gang alarmed the Governor and the Police Commander

Phuket Kids 'Mini-Mafia' Gangs Shock Governor, Police

Tuesday, February 8, 2011
GANGS of boys and girls from all over Phuket are combining in a ''mini-mafia'' to distribute drugs, make hand-made guns, sell sex and terrorise neighborhoods, a meeting at Phuket City was told today.

One group, the KB Club, had 724 members as at October 31and drew its membership from children as young as seven years old. They graduated with age to become more hardened criminals, the meeting was told.

Phuket Governor Tri Augkaradacha and Phuket Police Commander Major General Pekad Tantipong were shocked by a video at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6DA0TYQ9-I that they watched with Phuketwan.

The members of the KB (Kabotmuangtong) Club are, according to a group of teachers, school truants who flout the law and teach other children how to misbehave and become potential career crimininals.

''When kids are in school we can control them,'' said one Thalang teacher. ''But these youngsters are out of hand and running wild on Phuket. We can't control them.''

There were three generations, the female teacher said, the ''first generation'' aged 18 and above, the ''second generation'' aged 12 to 17, and the ''third generation'' aged between seven and 11.

Other gangs were almost large enough to rival the KB Club, the teacher said. The gang problem was affecting all schools as gangs tried to recruit new members from schools, she added.

The KB Club's symbol was a horned devil, sometimes depicted as a ragged doll with a twisted smile.

Girls as young as 13 were recruited to sell sex, the meeting was told. The fee for sex was 1500 baht, with 500 baht going to the ''mamasan'' gang leader.

Gangs of motorcyclists would also gamble their girlfriend's sexual favors on the outcome of motorcycle races, the meeting heard, and connected with each other via the Hi5 social network site in Thailand.

The presence of the gangs is not unknown to police but even Phuket's Police Commander was surprised today on hearing the details from teachers.

Phuket MP Rewat Are-Reerob said that not all Phuket parents could take proper care of their children and money was something they wanted to be free. Not enough attention was being paid to the proper upbringing of children, he said.

The 15 teachers who approached officials and police today were looking to establish a Semarak Centre on Phuket, where children without homes to go to could be properly protected.

Governor Tri said he would look favorably at making funding available for a 1.7 million baht centre as soon as possible.
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Comments

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Wow, impressive video --- this time my compliments go to the teachers for shocking the governor and the police commander, not to mention me!

Posted by ssresident on February 8, 2011 15:21

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724 members? This should be a wake-up call to the authorities.

The place needs a head-to-toe crack down throughout Phuket.

Posted by Anonymous on February 8, 2011 18:45

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The future of Phuket looks bright...

Posted by herbert on February 8, 2011 19:32

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So the next generation of Mafia crooks is waiting to take over. Bye-bye Thailand.

Posted by Tourist by Profession on February 8, 2011 23:08

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bigger threat than the "farang" motorcycle gangs the authorities were griping about a few days ago?

Posted by mikey on February 8, 2011 23:27

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Glad i stopped visiting Phuket 4 years ago only scams then now its the wild west and getting worse by the week if its not Tuk Tuk drivers attacking you it's come down to kids' gangs running the streets.

Posted by william Dale on February 9, 2011 05:37

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WELCOME to downtown..PHUKET...no differant than downtown LA..NEW YORK LIVERPOOL..HONG KONG..ETC..good on the schools this is the only place you can try and sort this...FIGHT FEAR WITH FEAR
Good luck Phuket..

Posted by STAN on February 9, 2011 06:38

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mild mannered Thais having to compete against aggressive foreigners at the beaches, the TAT should see this as well, and stop blaming the Farangs for the problems.

and I have but they have been leaving there marks with grafitti for a while now the police and other need to wake up and stop blaming farangs as that is easy and have a good look around.

Posted by Michael on February 9, 2011 08:50

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Shocked by that video??? I'm more shocked about the behavior of child prostitution and crime. Being a teacher myself I understand the frustration of the teachers but the parents and the police are ultimately responsible. Hold those accountable that are doing wrong (including parents) and stop throwing around the term 'mafia'. These are bored kids that are being given too much freedom. How about a scared straight program, take them to the Phuket jail and show them how 'cool' it is to be in this 'kiddy mafia'.

Posted by Jon on February 9, 2011 09:24

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"Not enough attention was being paid to the proper upbringing of children, he said."

I would like to see him raise a family on 200 baht a day and work 12 hours a day.

IMO stupid - Poverty causes crime - Fix Poverty by providing a decent standard of living so people have more time with their family.

Posted by Tbs on February 9, 2011 09:52

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I have watched this develop for some time I have tried giving jobs to some of the kids I have known since they were children basically they are still good kids but going down the wrong road. I am amazed they all seem to have guns at least they tell me so they don't flash them around. There seems to be a lot of speed use. So far they still will work if there are jobs available. I try and treat them right and pay them right and try and teach them how to make money other ways. The thing most people don't understand is how young they are and how angry they can get and destructive very quickly.They go from zero to killing in a heart beat. There brothers and friends who are in jail doesn't seem to slow them down. They have zero fear of police. The thing is there seems to be nothing being down to slow this down.

Posted by Capt Canada on February 12, 2011 12:05

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About 8 months ago, I had a kid of about 14-15 point what looked very much like a real handgun at my head in a gas station shop North of Heroines Monument. I think he thought it was a cool way to impress the young girl behind the counter, and to this day I regret not having gone straight to the local police station to report it.

Posted by Harvey on February 12, 2011 16:07

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Yeah - all these so called mafia guys think they are so tough - until they get to prison and find out what's really tough.

Posted by Brian on February 22, 2011 06:36


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