More than 200 police, soldiers and local officials raided nine locations on Pattaya’s Koh Larn on Friday, searching for illegal drugs and registering migrant workers and drivers of public-transport vehicles as part of the Chon Buri resort’s latest tourist-safety campaign.
Pol Maj Gen Amphon Buarubporn, commander of Chonburi police, led some 250 marine and tourist police, navy sailors, soldiers and local administrators through Tawaen, Thian, Samae, Nuan, Thonglang and Sangwan beaches on the tambon Bang Lamung island.
The squad searched for narcotics, took DNA samples from migrant workers, recorded their personal information and registered them. Authorities did the same with drivers of motorcycle taxis, songtaews and rented vehicles.
The move is part of safety campaign to boost confidence among tourists visiting this popular island.
About 6,000-10,000 Thai and foreign tourists visit Koh Larn a day. More than 1,000 migrant workers work there in resorts, restaurants and speed boat services.
Thai law enforcement officials routinely accused migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos of being behind crimes, particularly of tourists. However, on Koh Larn, the most recent violent attack - a rape of a Chinese woman in September - was committed by two Thai speedboat drivers.
Some 250 police, soldiers and local officials join a raid on nine locations on Koh Larn as part of safety measures to boost confidence among tourists visiting the island. (Photo by Chaiyot Phuttanapong)