Tourist police will launch a crackdown today on Phuket-based tour companies which allegedly operate businesses in connection with illegal zero-dollar tour scams.
Acting Tourist Police Bureau deputy chief Surachet Hakphan vowed Thursday to take legal action against all tour firms found to have violated the law, particularly those guilty of tax evasion.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet said the raids are a follow-up to the previous suppression effort on Tuesday against seven companies operating illegal tour business across the country.
This crackdown was jointly conducted by tourist police and officials from the Customs Department, the Land Transport Department, the Consumer Protection Police Division and the Natural Resources and Environmental Crime Suppression Division.
The firms are involved in gem and jewellery trading, leather products shops, rubber products and transport services. Police impounded 11 tour buses with red licence plates which allegedly operated illegally.
Some of those firms have affiliates in Phuket and have a record of being caught for running services illegally.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet said authorities will also inspect more than 70 red licence-plate tour buses in Phuket after the agency received petitions on the issue.
In another development, Pol Maj Gen Surachet said police would appeal against a ruling by the Criminal Court which last month acquitted executives of OA Transport Co of being embroiled in a zero-dollar tour scam.
The executives were also acquitted of charges including collusion to reap benefits from tourists, due to insufficient evidence.
Pol Maj Gen Surachet said officials were preparing the appeal. Other evidence and witnesses must be presented in court, he said.
National police chief Pol Gen Chakthip Chaijinda has appointed his deputy Pol Gen Rungroj Sangkram as a chief of an investigation team handling the case.
Another deputy, Pol Gen Srivara Ransibrahmanakul, was asked to oversee the investigation report. Pol Maj Gen Surachet said police must provide fairness to all sides, insisting police did not intended to help the suspects escape prosecution.
"We have worked at our full capacity to solve the perennial zero-dollar tour problem, which has ruined the country's economy," he said.
"Taking serious action on the issue will reinforce a positive image of Thailand among tourists," he added.
