Region 8 Police, although based in Phuket, oversees police operations in the seven Southern Thailand provinces of Ranong, Chumphon, Surat Thani, Nakhon Sri Thammarat, Krabi, Phang Nga and Phuket.
The results of the anti-crime drive were presented at a press conference held yesterday (Oct 6), presided over by Region 8 Police Commander Pol Lt Gen Sittichai Lokanpai.
The campaign, conducted from Oct 1–5, followed the government’s directive announced by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul before Parliament on Sept 29, calling for urgent suppression of crimes that threaten public safety, said an official report of the event.
The operation was coordinated under the supervision of Pol Gen Kittirat Phanphet, Commander of the Royal Thai Police.
According to Lt Gen Sittichai, officers from the Region 8 Police Investigation Division were mobilised across the provinces to target major criminal activity, leading to 2,186 cases being filed.
Key results included:
* Firearms and explosives: 336 cases, 332 suspects. Police seized 13 explosives, one homemade gun, 151 unregistered firearms, 71 registered firearms and 2,413 rounds of ammunition.
* Drug offences: 1,165 cases, 1,178 suspects. Confiscations included 528,293 methamphetamine pills (ya bah), 55,121 grammes of crystal meth (ya ice) and 7.99kg of heroin.
* Online gambling: 45 cases, 48 suspects, with cash turnover exceeding B3 billion.
* General gambling: 141 cases, 228 suspects.
* Informal debt: Two cases, two suspects. Assets seized included 94 motorcycles, six cars and two tractors, worth more than B840,000, with debts totalling B2.7 million.
* Human trafficking: Two cases, two suspects.
* Immigration Act offences: 86 cases, 86 suspects.
* Entertainment Establishment Act offences: 31 cases, 31 suspects.
* Outstanding warrants: 378 warrants executed, 368 suspects apprehended.
The crackdown also resulted in a 4.4% reduction in outstanding warrants within the region, lowering the total from 8,588, Pol Lt Gen Sittichai said.
Lt Gen Sittichai affirmed that Region 8 Police will continue implementing government and national police strategies aimed at building public confidence, ensuring safety of life and property, and maintaining peace throughout Southern Thailand.