The Director, Tarit Pengdith, said that the centre would open within to weeks, with two offices – one at the Transport Department and one in Phuket Town, staffed by officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports; the DSI; the National Police Office; and Phuket Provincial authorities.
Contact details are not yet available but once the Centre is open, it will be open to receive information and complaints 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Mr Tarit was one of the leaders of a heavy-hitting crew of about 40 officials who arrived in Phuket to begin an attempt to bring lawlessness among taxis and tuk-tuks to an end, and to crack down on companies with nominee shareholders, starting with Russian-invested firms. Also heading the team was Somsak Pureesrisak, Minister of Tourism & Sports.
The DSI boss said, “The DSI has two main responsibilities [in Phuket], cracking down on ‘mafia’ activities and on foreign-run companies with nominee Thai shareholders.”
He denied there was duplication of work being done by other departments. “We haven’t tried to grab cases from other departments such as the National Police or the Tourist Police. This is not duplication; it is work in which all departments should help one another.”
After breakfast at the airport, the officials, along with Vice-Governor Jamroen Tippayapongtada listened to a briefing from airport officials on future development of the airport and on problems with unlicensed “black” taxis.
The delegation then headed for Phuket Provincial Hall for discussions about black taxis and illegally incorporated companies. They were met by a delegation from the island’s registered taxi and tuk-tuk drivers, reinforcing the message that they are fed up with black operators encroaching on their territory and “stealing” their customers.
The high profile visit has ruffled feathers in the province. On Wednesday (July 24) Governor Maitree Intusut said in a conversation with The Phuket News that there seemed to be a lack of communication between Bangkok and his office.
Gov Maitree was unable to join yesterday’s meeting because he had another in Bangkok, after being originally informed that the meeting in Phuket would be today (July 26). By the time the date for the Phuket visit was moved forward, he was already committed to the Bangkok meeting.
“The DSI should talk with us and have the same information base as Phuket officials or me,” the Governor said. “I realise they may have more in-depth information, but they should talk with me.
“And, if the DSI or the Ministry of Tourism & Sport get complaints about Phuket, they should contact Phuket officials.
“Actually, we should all be working together.”
Asked whether the establishment of the new Centre for Control of Organised Crime meant that Bangkok was worried that the Phuket provincial authorities could not handle the growing criminality on the island, Mr Tarit said, “No. But the DSI is able to apply the law more rigorously than the provincial officials.”