BANGKOK CRACKDOWN ON ENTERTAINMENT VENUES
City Police Ordered to Step Up Vice Suppression
BANGKOK: -- A deputy PM has instructed the city police to step up measures to prevent and eradicate drugs and other vices in the area after reports about an increase in Bangkok's entertainment venues with horse racing machines and drug sales.
Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung delivered drug suppression policies for Bangkok's entertainment venues to commanders and deputy commanders from nine districts under the Metropolitian Police Bureau's jurisdiction.
Chalerm revealed that only 600 of some 1,500 entertainment venues in Bangkok are licensed.
He said some under the jurisdiction of the Makkasan and Huay Kwang police stations are openly selling amphetamine and methamphetamine on their premises.
Some under the jurisdiction of the Phlap Phla Chai 1, Bang Rak, Samrae, Buppharam and Bukkhalo police stations, have horse racing machines and act as illegal lottery bookies.
The deputy PM instructed the city police to seek cooperation from entrepreneurs to immediately inform the authorities of their business rivals' illegal activities.
Moreover, Chalerm also ordered all police stations in Bangkok to step up vice supression by using proactive measures to prevent smuggling of illegal substances and other vices into their areas and emphasize close monitoring of risk groups.
Asked about the proposal to hold drug-related inmates in separate facilities, the deputy PM said he agrees with the idea to hold only major drug kingpins in solitary cells to cut their networks.
He proposed that a particular remand center could be set up as a model to carry out a pilot project.
However, further details of plan will have be to be studied.
Further questioned about Rak Thailand Party leader and party-list MP, Chuwit Kamolwisit's disclosure of information about gambling dens in Bangkok, Chalerm affirmed that the police have already shut down all gambling venues which are openly advertised to the public
The deputy premier went on to say that most gambling venues existing in the capital are not permanent as they usually change their locations frequently.
Chalerm confirmed that he has never protected the national police chief and the city police commissioner over the existence of gambling dens in the capital.
Tan Network 2012-01-31