He was responding to a question from The Phuket News about the performance of his officers over the past few weeks.
The eight out of ten came in contrast to the strafing Phuket police – especially traffic police – received when the general first arrived on the island and told them, “Policemen are not made of brown sugar which doesn’t like to be outdoors. You are not going to melt in sunlight or when it’s raining. Get to work.”
Yesterday the general first showed journalists the collection of weapons seized in the past week: 26 knives, six guns and 151 bullets. Thirty-two people were arrested on weapons charges.
He also showed off the narcotics seized: 140 mg of heroine, 296.29g of marijuana, 13.37kg of compressed Kratom, 442 Kratom leaves, an entire kratom tree carefully erected in the Provincial Police HQ, 12 methamphetamine pills and almost half a kilo of crystal meth.
A total of 54 people were arrested for possession or selling of drugs.
Gen Patchara introduced a varied cast of characters at the press conference:
Ponchai Chuayphitak, 43, Suthon Somtat, 52, and Surachai Kongin, 36, were arrested for possession of nearly half a kilo of crystal meth with a street value of B1.3 million.
Soonthorn admitted that he had ordered the ice from Chan Jinakam, 52, who had recently been released from Chiang Rai prison.
Chan, he said, would arrange for parcels of drugs to be sent on the regular bus service from Surat Thani to Phuket.
Gen Patchara noted, “As [Soonthron] said, it would be hard for us to search every incoming bus.”
Now, however, police have details about Chan, including his bank account and his phone number, so action against him can be expected soon.
Burglar Banjob “Nong” Praphet, 44. He broke into a Phuket Town coffee shop on October 30 and an Indian shop on November 22, stealing goods from the latter valued by the owner at B620,000.
He was caught by following CCTV footage. Also caught was his “fence”, 58-year-old Amphai Ritrarong, who bought some of the stolen goods.
Banjob had only been out of jail for four months after serving back-to-back sentences for robberies committed in 2008 and 2010.
Prasopchot Somboon, who threatened another driver with a pistol yesterday (December 1), in a road rage incident that was photographed by a number of passing motorists and posted on social media.
The two vehicles had been competing for space on on Patong Hill and when the driver of the other vehicle flashed his headlights, Prasopchot stopped, jumped out, and pointed his pistol at the other driver. When the other man said he would call the police, Prasopchot got back in his truck and drove away.
Police caught him just hours later and discovered that the weapon was a BB gun. They also found kratom liquor in his car. He was charged with possession.
Gen Patchara ask Prasobchot, “Why did you use your gun to threaten people?” Prasopchot answered meekly, “I was angry.”
Aphisit Srinakkanat, 45, who was arrested for having no only kratom leaves but an entire kratom tree in his garden. He told The Phuket News, “It is my tree. I planted it a year ago. It’s just for my personal use.”
But Gen Patchara wants to stamp out the Category 5 drug. “I am worried about teenagers, who are the risk group for kratom liquor. It will be the start of them going onto harder drugs. I do not want kratom in Phuket.”