The drive was initially supposed to have begun in March, but was postponed when it was decided to see whether a province-wide campaign to register black taxis was a success.
Now, however, with Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yubamrung’s support for action to make Phuket more secure, the airport drive is going ahead.
Airport director Prathuang Sornkham and Tha Chat Chai police began last Friday (June 29) screening and arresting black taxi drivers who try to get into PIA.
A police checkpoint has been set up at the entrance of PIA and police reported that “some” illegal taxi drivers have been arrested, though they did not give numbers.
About 80 meter taxis and 150 green-plate “limousines” currently operate legally at the airport. The number of black taxis doing the same is not known, but is estimated to number in the hundreds.