PHUKET: Three photo touts were arrested with three protected slow lorises in Phuket's nightlife tourist hub, Patong, last night.
According to officers making the arrest, at least one of the touts was charging 500 baht for tourists in Patong's famous walking street, Soi Bangla, to have a photo taken with a loris.
The arrested men - Pitchet Pimrat, Samli Sangjan and Verapong Metula - were taken to Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong, to be charged.
The lorises, protected creatures, will be taken by Forests department officers and most likely released into the wild in Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket.
Touts tend to reappear quickly on the streets. Slow loris expert Anna Nekaris recently suggested that more severe punishments could stop people reoffending.
Fines in Patong are usually 2000 baht or less. If tourists are paying 500 baht for a photo, the fine probably has small impact.
Last night's raid was led by the Director of Kathu, Veera Kerdsirimongkol, who later organised a checkpoint at the Ket Ho Temple targetting drugs and weapons.
At least 14 people apprehended at the checkpoint last night tested positive for drugs.
According to officers making the arrest, at least one of the touts was charging 500 baht for tourists in Patong's famous walking street, Soi Bangla, to have a photo taken with a loris.
The arrested men - Pitchet Pimrat, Samli Sangjan and Verapong Metula - were taken to Kathu Police Station, which oversees Patong, to be charged.
The lorises, protected creatures, will be taken by Forests department officers and most likely released into the wild in Phang Nga, the province north of Phuket.
Touts tend to reappear quickly on the streets. Slow loris expert Anna Nekaris recently suggested that more severe punishments could stop people reoffending.
Fines in Patong are usually 2000 baht or less. If tourists are paying 500 baht for a photo, the fine probably has small impact.
Last night's raid was led by the Director of Kathu, Veera Kerdsirimongkol, who later organised a checkpoint at the Ket Ho Temple targetting drugs and weapons.
At least 14 people apprehended at the checkpoint last night tested positive for drugs.
At one stage there was a number to contact the head guy charged with catching these guys, to the ED do you happen to know the number & if it is still relevant?
Posted by eezergood on June 12, 2013 08:30
Editor Comment:
Sorry, we don't have it instantly. Perhaps another reader does?