Area police are again touting results of a limited, one-month crackdown on Pattaya-area crime, saying more than 1,000 suspects were arrested in the first 24 days of August.
The crime sweep – similar to a much ballyhooed one-month exercise in high season – generated lots of press conferences, but also questions why police don’t put in the same kind of effort the other 10 months of the year.
Police put on display the items confiscated in the latest crackdown on crime, which included a cache of sex toys and stimulants.
Regardless, Gen. Wuthi Liptapanlop, who has taken up a semi-permanent position as the Royal Thai Police Headquarters’ “advisor” in Pattaya, said the latest camera-lit operation, which ran through Aug. 31, had generated 1,024 criminal cases. In those, 102,495 methamphetamine tablets were seized, along with 1,032 grams of marijuana, 59.6 grams of opium, 62 Kratom leaves, 47 guns, 392 bullets, five cars, 47 motorbikes and copious amounts of tax-dodging beauty products, sexual performance drugs, pornography and designer knockoffs.
Like the January-February crime crackdown, last month’s operation began with a week of surveillance, followed by arrests in the second week. The second phase, encompassing the final two weeks, saw police put in place a “preventative and suppression” system involving tourist-centric businesses and the general public who are being requested to provide tips and intelligence on the source of crimes
More than 600 officers took part in the high-season show of force. It was unknown how many participated in August’s sweep, although officials said personnel from Region 2 and Chonburi Station were involved.
