The driver, named by police only as “Mr Adisak’, 30, was arrested at a checkpoint set up at the intersection in front of Patong Hospital at 11:50pm Monday night (Oct 16), Patong Police reported late yesterday.
The report made no mention of where at the intersection the Adisak was arrested. Patong Police Station itself is located at that same intersection, diagonally opposite from Patong Hospital.
Adisak, who goes by the nickname ‘Phase’, was arrested in the second mass search operation of tuk-tuks and other “public transport vehicles”, said the Patong Police report.
The search operation was led by Pol Lt Wanit Anantaphong of the Patong Police Traffic Police, the report added.
The tuk-tuk Adisak was driving was identified in the report by its registration number ฟข-401 (ForKor-401) Phuket.
The series of photos posted with the report showed Patong Traffic Police carrying out many inspections, but did not identify exactly which photo showed Adisak being searched or placed under arrest.
Adisak was found with 43 pills of ya bah, which is a Category 1 narcotic, as well as three iron bars and one axe, the police report confirmed.
Adisak was handed over to investigating officers “to prosecute according to law”, said the report.
No other details of the arrest were provided. There also was no confirmation of exactly which charges Adisak has been formally presented with, or whether Adisak was to be tested for drug use.
The report also made no mention of whether Patong Police are to even inform the Phuket Land Transport Office (PLTO), which regulates all public transport vehicles and licences in Phuket, of Adisak’s arrest.