At 10am today (Sept 20), a team of officers led by Acting Deputy Chief of the Thai Tourist Police Maj Gen Surachate Hakparn, Phuket Provincial Police Commander Maj Gen Teeraphol Thipjaroen and others raided businesses that are believed to exploit and cheat tourists on products and services.
Businesses raided were; P.P. Bird Nest Co Ltd in Phuket Town, Kings Bird's Nest Co Ltd in Wichit, Wang Talang Jewelry and Giftshop Co Ltd in Wichit, Chalong Latex Co Ltd on Chao Fa West Rd in Chalong and Thaiko Natural Health Co Ltd (snake garden).
Examples of items seized included bird nests, leather belts and wallets, gems, rubber mattresses and pillows, and heath and skin nourishing products.
The total value of items seized was B10,129,490.
Maj Gen Teeraphol told The Phuket News, “All things seized were found in shops in Phuket. We also found what were said to be vitamin pills , but they were not vitamins.
“We know full well that we cannot stop all of the places selling such goods, but we will try to decrease these products. We have to check more,” he said.
“As Maj Gen Surachate has said, those within this business circle must be operating within the law,” he added.
Maj Gen Surachate urged the press by saying, “We are Thais, we must show to tourists that they can trust us. Then they will come back to Thailand again. Phuket is a top destination for tourists and defending them against crime is our job. Tourist police always support Phuket’s policemen in protecting tourists.”
Additional reporting by Tanyaluk Sakoot