PHUKET'S POLICE FIND NOTHING IN DRUG RAIDS

PHUKET CITY: Phuket Governor Wichai Phraisa-ngop, some top officials
and a lot of police officers crashed some of Phuket City's most
popular parties on Friday night -- on the hunt for drugs and weapons.

But those who fret about the loose morals of Thailand's youth of
today will be relieved to find out the police came out
empty-handed.

Gov Wichai, Vice Governor Smith Palawatvichai, Phuket Public Health
Office officials, customs officers and Phuket City Police took part
in the raids at the Kortormor, Sofa and Blue Marina nightclubs.

Revelers were searched for drugs and weapons and subjected to urine
testing.

Their identification papers were also checked to ensure they were
over 18 years old.

Not one was found to be breaking the law.

Gov Wichai said that random searches were nevertheless crucial in the
fight against crime.

"There are more than 300,000 people registered as living here, as
well as a lot of tourists and foreign workers," he said. "Our 1,000
police officers and 70 volunteers just aren't enough to check all the
entertainment venues."

"That's why we carry out random searches," he said. "We have to show
people we're serious in order to make them obey the law."