Nearly 300 illegal taxi drivers, tour guides nabbed at Suvarnabhumi Airport

BANGKOK, Aug 16 (TNA) – Police arrested nearly 300 unlicensed taxi drivers and tour guides in the two-week crackdown on crime at Suvarnabhumi Airport, said Piyapan Champasut, who chairs the board of directors of Airports of Thailand (AoT), the private corporation which oversees all operations there.

Police and AOT security personnel have worked together to crack down on illegal taxi drivers and tour guides at Suvarnabhumi Airport since July 31. Two hundred and five unlicensed taxi drivers and 83 illegal tour guides have so far been arrested, Mr Piyapan said.

More than 100 officials work daily at the airport and more 30 surveillance cameras were installed to capture the footage of scammers.

Regarding baggage theft, Mr. Piyapan said that AOT will meet with representatives of two companies – Bangkok Flight Services (BFS) and Thai Airways International (THAI) -- to consider improved policies on preventing baggage theft. The two companies are service providers at the airport.

Revised policies are expected to be implemented by September1, he said adding the policies include installing more surveillance cameras, and requiring baggage handlers to wear uniforms without pockets.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva on Saturday ordered airport officials to resolve malpractice problems at Suvarnabhumi Airport and restore confidence among foreign tourists.

After inspecting airport facilities and talking with AoT officials in problem-areas, including duty-free shops, unlicensed taxis, baggage theft and civil servants representing themselves as higher, well-connected officials, Mr. Abhisit said guidelines would be laid out so that transparency and tourist confidence could be restored at the airport.

An international news reports recently said that a number of international – British, Danish and Irish in particular – reported they were falsely accused of shoplifting at Suvarnabhumi airport and some reported being taken away from the airport where they were intimidated and gave thousands of dollars in scams they said were to avoid arrest and prosecution. (TNA)