TWO MEN were shackled and sent to Chalong police station last night after a road checkpoint yielded a single ya bah (methamphetamine) pill and a knife.

In an effort to improve island security and safety, Chalong police are conducting nightly checks at various locations in Chalong, Rawai, Wichit and Kata-Karon.

Phuketwan was on the scene as the two men, both 18, were pulled aside by police at the checkpoint near Home Mart on Chaofa East Road about 7.30pm for not wearing helmets.

Police found a bottle of cough medicine in a check under the motorbike seat. They then patted down both young men and found a ya bah pill in the trouser pocket of one and a knife in the pocket of the other.

Both men were handcuffed and taken to Chalong police station for urine testing.

Motorcycle muggings and other crimes have posed a challenge to the Chalong police force of 120, with only seven officers on patrol to cover the south end of Phuket.

In the most well-known case, Norwegian Simen Knudsen died after being attacked in an apparent robbery attempt in Rawai in 2007.

His attackers have never been found.

Outgoing Phuket Police Commander Major General Apirak Hongtong has called for a police station to be set up in the Kata-Karon area to serve the growing municipality but so far no budget or plans have been approved.

Decisions and budgets to open new stations come from the central Royal Thai Police command in Bangkok.

A policeman at the checkpoint said that 10 policemen were involved in the nightly checks.

He said there were not enough officers to take care of people in Rawai, an area where many of the motorcycle robberies occur.

Governor Dr Preecha Ruangjan has taken a strong anti-drug stance since his arrival to the island last October, and told Phuketwan that even with police checks drug use has not dropped in Phuket.