Stories tagged with police
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Tourist Police in Pattaya
There are more than 20 foreigners helping the Thai police keep the peace in Pattaya. The “farang” police are helping Thai police bridge the language gap while they are on duty on one of Thailand’s most popular tourist destinations. But recently, there have been some complaints that farang police are abusing their power by charging money for protection and being a menace to tourists and locals.
The Pattaya Tourist Police have created two groups of farang and Thai volunteers to carry out police daily duties. The farang volunteers are part of the “volunteer foreign friendship” project that was set up by the commander of the Tourist Police. The foreigners are from various locations around the world and some have previous law enforcement experience.
To get a positions with the Tourist Police, the volunteer must first go through a personal background check. The volunteer farang must also participate in a basic law enforcement course that includes an education in theory and basic application in the field. After completing the application and requirements, the volunteers will be considered for positions
Posted by: Andrew on 06 Dec 2008, 17:17 -
Gang kills one and injures five
A 25-year-old Thai man from Bangkok was attacked and killed by gunshot at the Sweet Zone Pub in Koh Samui. Four of his friends, and his brother, were also injured in the incident involving members of the “Red Dragon Gang” of Koh Samui. The attackers were reportedly teenage boys.
The young men from Bangkok were dancing at the pub when some of the gang members started flirting with their female companions. The young men confronted the gang members and told him to leave the girls alone. The gang members left the pub but waited outside.
When the group of boys left the pub later that evening, five or six of the gang members were waiting outside. After a short exchange of words, the Red Dragon gang members pulled out guns and started shooting, witnesses said. The pub’s surveillance camera caught all of the action on tape. Police said the recording would help identify and convict the young shooters.
Among the boys shot was the son of one of Thailand’s Democratic members of parliament. Koh Samui police said the shootings were ruthless and vowed to find and convict the gang members.
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Nov 2008, 05:02 -
Major heroin bust in Phuket
Police arrested a Taiwanese national and a Thai man with 104 kilograms of heroin in Phuket. The police also seized a suitcase used to carry the drugs, 25 keys and three mobile phones. The apprehension of the two men capped a three month long investigation involving the US Drug Enforcement Agency and local authorities.
The investigation by the DEA tracked members of a Taiwanese gang called the “Southern Dragons” moving drugs through Thailand. The gang has been moving heroin and other drugs through the Golden Triangle to their final destinations in Hong Kong, Taiwan and China.
The heroin was located in a high-tech concrete storage area under the kitchen floor. A hydraulic lift would lower and raise the stash at the push of a button. The bricks of heroin would then be put into gas cylinders for transport. These steel cylinders would be placed aboard boats that would travel towards China. The cylinders would then be handed off to larger ships once they reached outlying waters.
The US Drug Enforcement Agency and local authorities have issued several other arrest warrants in connection with this drug ring. This investigation is part of the recent crackdown on drug dealers in and around Phuket.
Posted by: Andrew on 18 Nov 2008, 10:53 -
7-11 stores to help tourists in trouble
In a new project aimed at improving the safety of tourists and the accessibility of Thailand’s local police forces, all 7-11 convenience stores in Pattaya and Koh Chang are now acting as emergency Tourist Police contact locations. Although it’s only in the trial phase, any tourist can enter a 7-11 at these two popular Thai beach destinations and dial the Tourist Police number 24 hours a day.
If things go well, the initiative will be expanded to create a tourist emergency network encompassing all 4,000 7-11s throughout Thailand. Participating stores in Pattaya and Koh Chang will display a sign in the window and the staff have been trained to deal with tourists in trouble. It’s an excellent way to help tourists find the help they need, as 7-11s are virtually a global household name.
Noppakorn S. Tansakul, the project’s lead consultant, tried the scheme out on Bangkok’s Khaosan Road during last year’s Songkran festival. He said that it showed very positive results, and the Thai public even helped by reporting non-violent crimes like drug dealing and prostitution.
The trial in Pattaya and Koh Chang will last 3 months, at which time its effectiveness will be evaluated. In Pattaya the Tourist Police emergency number is 1337, and on Koh Chang it is 1155.
Posted by: Andrew on 21 Sep 2008, 11:00