Tourist checks stepped up in Bangkok

Tourist checks stepped up in Bangkok

Metropolitan police commissioner Sanit Mahathavorn checks the documents of tourists on Nana Road, Bangkok, early Saturday morning. (Royal Thai Police photo)
Metropolitan police commissioner Sanit Mahathavorn checks the documents of tourists on Nana Road, Bangkok, early Saturday morning. (Royal Thai Police photo)

Surprising searches are continuing in Bangkok, especially where foreign tourists with suspicious moves gather to ensure safety ahead of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) Summit from Saturday to Monday.

About 200 policemen conducted such a search on Nana Road (Sukhumvit 3 Road) at 12am Saturday. The officers came from the Metropolitan Police Bureau, the Patrol and Special Operation Division, the Tourist Police Division, and the Narcotics Suppression Bureau.

They combed through the road and checked about 30 tourists, six of whom were found either having no passports or having narcotic traces in their urine.

Leading the search, metropolitan police commissioner Sanit Mahathavorn said the activity was part of operations to prevent crime in the capital and focused on foreign tourists with suspicious behaviours.

The search early Saturday found that most of the wrongdoers failed to carry their passports and police were checking if they had any criminal records, Pol Lt Gen Sanit said.

The operation was also intended to step up security ahead of the 2nd ACD Summit, he said.

Plain-clothes police and informants were watching out for criminals who arrived and disguised themselves as tourists. They must be taken care of, the Bangkok police chief said.

Besides, police asked tourism-related operators to assist in the surveillance and check the passports of their clients, he said.

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