Phuket police seize 22 modified vehicles in Vegetarian Festival crackdown
Police took 22 youths in for questioning and record-keeping after seizing modified vehicles near Saphan Hin during the Vegetarian Festival.
Phuket Provincial Police seized 22 modified vehicles and took 22 youths in for questioning and record-keeping during a crackdown near Saphan Hin amid the Vegetarian Festival.
Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Surachai Suksai led 36 officers from Phuket City Police Station in the operation. Police began at the plaza outside the station before setting up so-called “Spiderweb” checkpoints, then established a checkpoint at the Swimming Pool Intersection behind Saphan Hin.
Police said the operation targeted firearms, drugs and other illegal activities under the policy of Pol Lt Gen Trairong Phiwphan, Assistant Commissioner General of the Royal Thai Police.
The youths’ parents were summoned to the station for counselling and to collect their children. Police said the seized vehicles would be returned after the Vegetarian Festival.
In a separate operation early on 11 October, Wichit Police and Phuket’s Special Operations Unit seized nine motorcycles and identified 12 people under the age of 18 at Laem Din So viewpoint. Parents or guardians were summoned and briefed on relevant provisions of the Child Protection Act.
Investigators were gathering evidence to determine whether any of those motorcycles had been used for reckless driving or illegal street racing, police said. Further legal action could follow if offences were established.
Wichit administrative officials also reported increased patrols at youth gathering spots and other high-risk locations. During a 9 October patrol covering six locations, including Saphan Hin, Ao Yon Beach, Khlong Mudong and Laem Din So, officials inspected 16 people and nine motorcycles. They identified four motorcycles with modified, excessively loud exhausts and seized an e-cigarette and a quantity of firecrackers and fireworks.
