Highway and tourist police fanned out across Pattaya following a string of bombings in the South, setting up checkpoints to search for weapons and drugs.
Pol. Col. Luechai Nonpatikul, chief of the Region 3 Highway Police, and Pol. Maj. Piyapong Ensarn, head of the Pattaya Tourist Police Division, spearheaded the Aug. 15 operation aided by police volunteers and officers from other areas of Chonburi and Rayong.
The force was split into two groups, with the first responsible for the entrance and exits of Pattaya with checkpoints set up at the Pattaya Floating Market and near Jittapawan Temple.
All vehicles were stopped for inspection with officers looking for drugs, weapons and potential explosives. Also, most drivers were checked for outstanding warrants and police records. Suspected drunk drivers were tested.
No weapons or drugs were recovered anywhere the entire night by the first group.
The second group covered main roads through town. Police did not report the results of their checks by this group.
Luechai said the checkpoints were set up following a string of blasts in tourist resorts and provinces across southern Thailand Aug. 11-12.
