PHUKET TOUR BOAT CREW, CAPTAINS ARRESTED FOR DRUGS

PHUKET TOUR BOAT CREW, CAPTAINS ARRESTED FOR DRUGS

PHOTO: Facebook/ตำรวจสอบสวนกลาง

The ongoing crackdown on marine safety and tourism in Phuket has netted three more arrests. A Phuket speedboat crew has been arrested for drug possession and consumption. Three people were arrested. Meanwhile, another 5 crewmen and captains arrested for violating the Navigation in Thai Waters Act.

According to a Phuket News report, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau carried out the arrests at Rassada Pier and an unnamed marina in the sub-district of Koh Kaew. The arrests were the result of inspections conducted on tour speedboats at both locations.

Three crew members, named as 26-year-old Mr Jakkrit, 42 year old Mr Nikorn, and 31 year old Mr Bancha, were charged with the possession and consumption of a Category 1 narcotic (methamphetamine/“yaba”).

Jakkrit was arrested after being found in possession of 7 yaba pills on board a speedboat at Rassada Pier. He subsequently tested positive for drug use.

Nikorn was arrested on a speedboat “in the area of a Koh Kaew pier” in possession of a single yaba bill and having tested positive for drug use.

Bancha was apprehended on a speedboat, also “in the area of a Koh Kaew pier”, in possession of 2 yaba bills and after testing positive for drug use.

According to the report, all 3 have confessed the drugs were theirs and that they had consumed the drug.

Meanwhile, at the same Koh Kaew location, 27-year-old Mr Theerasak was arrested for acting as a captain and operating a boat without having the correct licence.

Mr Pantawat, also 27, was arrested in the same place for acting as a captain on a vessel that had no accredited machine operator on board. He was charged with “using a boat in violation of the conditions or requirements of the boat licence and using a boat whose boat licence has expired”.

Mr Sunthorn, 32 was arrested at the same pier or marina in Koh Kaew after being found with a ship operator’s certificate that had expired in February 2020. Also in Koh Kaew, a 37-year-old man named as Mr Rattanasak was arrested for acting as a boat captain and “using a boat in violation of the conditions or requirements of the boat licence”.

The CIB has confirmed that Theerasak, Pantawat, Sunthorn and Rattanasak have all been charged with violating the Navigation in Thai Waters Act.

Meanwhile, at Rassada pier, 44-year-old boat mechanic Mr Anucha was arrested for working on a vessel without the correct permit.

According to the report, the Phuket Marine Office has yet to release a statement on the arrests.