Pol Maj Gen Prutthipong Nuchanart, Commander of the Marine Police officially announced the launch of the campaign at the Marine Police Region 8 headquarters on Phuket Rd in Phuket Town yesterday (May 29).
A force of 70 officers from various units are assigned to join the crackdown, including Marine Police Region 8 and Region 9 divisions, Highway Police, Crime Suppression Division, Tourist Police, Phuket Immigration along with Phuket City Police and Wichit Police.
“The Andaman Sea is a vital area for fishing and tourism, yet it faces persistent issues such as illegal fishing, drug distribution and other criminal activities,” Pol Maj Gen Prutthipong said.
“The Central Investigation Bureau has identified several key problems, including the use of illegal fishing gear, unauthorised coastal fishing, drug use among fishing boat workers, illegal firearms and various other offenses. In response, the Marine Police has been tasked with launching Operation ‘Andaman Dawn’ to prevent and suppress these crimes,” he added.
Pol Maj Gen Prutthipong outlined the operation’s primary missions: targeting illegal fishing, preventing and suppressing drug trafficking, intercepting immigration violations, inspecting cargo ships, executing outstanding arrest warrants and ensuring the safety of sea tourists.
He stressed the importance of meticulous and cautious execution of duties by the officers to achieve these objectives.
The operation covers the Marine Police Region 8 areas comprising 240 square nautical miles in Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket, while Marine Police Region 9 is responsible for 451 square nautical miles in Krabi, Trang and Satun.
“Through Operation ‘Andaman Dawn’, the Marine Police aims to bolster maritime security, prevent future crimes and protect Thailand’s coastal and economic interests. There is also a main objective that all police officers carry out their missions according to the strategy, by using the tactics that they have been trained with at all times,” Pol Maj Gen Prutthipong said.
While the campaign was being officially launched in Phuket Town, officers from the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) joined by Marine Police yesterday arrested three Phuket tour speedboat crewmen on drug charges and a further five for violating the breaches of the Navigation Act in Thai Waters Act, namely by operating boats without the correct certification.
The arrests were made at Ratsada Pier as well as at ‘piers/marinas’ in the Koh Kaew area.