PHUKET: Twenty-two tuk-tuks and other vehicles used to blockade the main street of Patong earlier this year were seized and impounded today as a Phuket task force nabbed 68 of the 82 people for whom warrants have been issued.

In raids by about 500 police and other authorities, the drivers who used their vehicles to prevent action by police for six hours on March 4 were one key target group. The 22 vehicles - along with two motorcycles - will be held until their trials conclude.

A total of 49 people were arrested over that blockade. They and the others arrested are being held overnight in cells at Phuket City Police Station and will be taken to Phuket Provincial Court tomorrow to negotiate bail.

Six people are still wanted over the blockade. Among others on the wanted list are former Patong Mayor Pian Keesin and his sons Prab and Peun. A raid on Khun Pian's mansion in Patong today produced a rifle that his first wife Srikam said was licenced to her.

A raid on a second house belonging to Khun Pian also failed to uncover the former Patong Mayor. He is believes to have several properties, some beyond Phuket.

Khun Srikam said Prab Keesin was at a seminar off the island, looking at reforms of Thailand.

The Keesin family business, the Pisona Group, has its headquarters within metres of Khun Pian's house and was one of 16 addresses singled out for raids by the task force today, in addition to the search for the 82 taxi and tuk-tuk drivers and their alleged sponsors.

Tax investigators, anti-corruption and anti-money laundering officers joined today's search from Bangkok, along with soldiers from Nakhon Si Tammarat, personnel from the Royal Thai Navy 3, police brought in from off Phuket, the Crime Suppression Division and the Metropolitan Police Bureau.

This afternoon's media conference at Phuket Police Headquarters in Phuket City by Major General Panya Mamen, who heads Region 8 Police, brought one of the largest swarms of Bangkok and Phuket reporters that the island has seen.

Major General Panya said the ''Phuket model'' for dealing with the accusations made against the tuk-tuk and taxi drivers in Patong and earlier in Kata-Karon, where more than 100 arrests were made, would be applied again elsewhere in Thailand.

''We have kept our promise to move from Kata-Karon to Patong,'' he said. ''Next we will be looking at Mai Khao [which probably includes Phuket International Airport.]''

Phuketwan reporters watched late today as a large safe was transferred from the back of a pickup up the stairs and through the doors at Phuket City Police Station. The safe is believed to have come from one of 16 places nominated by police that required search warrants from the courts.

On the glass doors at Phuket City Police Station are the words: ''Being Professional Police Making People Happy.''

As well as the rifle at former mayor Pian's home, raiders seized three other weapons today, including one found at the home of the village chief of Kata-Karon and another taken from the Phuket City home of Jirayut Songyos.

Khun Jirayut was a Pheu Thai party candidate for the national election that disintegrated because of protests earlier this year.

Police will continue their search for the 14 people for whom arrest warrants have been issued, including the Keesins.

A large-size new tuk-tuk was also seized and impounded today because it carried old number plates from another vehicle.