Task force cracks down on gang collecting beach entrance fees
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A joint force from the Forest Protecting Operation Centre (FPOC) and the police Immigration Division this week raided a gang that had allegedly been collecting fees from foreign tourists at Phuket’s famed Freedom beach.
The gang had set up at least three temporary checkpoints around the beach area and was allegedly collecting entrance fees from the tourists at Bt200 per person. It is estimated that around 300 to 500 tourists visit the beach every day while the checkpoints were found to have encroached upon the forest reserve.
The joint force also learned that some restaurants open to tourists there had also encroached upon the forest reserve. Attempts were made to claim land ownership but the force said the issue would be examined further, according to Cheewapap Cheewatham, chief of the FPOC’s Phayak Prai taskforce.
Two people were arrested following the operation, he said.
