The recently appointed Deputy Superintendent of Phuket Immigration, Pol Lt Col Thawatchai Nongbua told The Phuket News, “We are focusing on entertainment venues where there are likely to be child prostitution, particularly places that stage filthy shows and karaoke venues.
“Tonight, we have 12 officers divided into two groups to check along Bangla Rd, focusing on foreigners in the entertainment business, which we have done already in the past.
Last night’s visit was more of a reconnoitering mission than a mission to make arrests, but Col Thawatchai said, “The teams will go out two or three times a week visiting various part of the island.
“In Patong, we have an Immigration office, so after they have completed their day duties, officers will go out at night checking in the Patong area.
“Now we will put pressure on them as much as we can because it’s national issue, so those [lawbreakers] might not get away with it [any more].”