MARINE police arrested the captain of a tour boat off Phuket today (June 25) for violating maritime and tourism laws in taking two Chinese tourists fishing without a tour guide amid suspicion that a nominee company could be running this vessel, Naewna newspaper said.
Pol. Lt. Col. Wisanu Jinawong, head of Marine Police Station 3, Division 8, Marine Police Bureau, along with a police team, took patrol boat 444 to search the area under their responsibility and while patrolling Andaman Sea at Laem Dinso, off Phuket’s Wichit subdistrict came across a tour boat which had taken two Chinese tourists out fishing.
While this boat had a captain, Mr. Kritphat, 27, and a crew there was no tour guide as required by law with there also being a Starlink satellite internet system installed, consisting of satellite transceiver, power supply, and internet signal distribution equipment.
When the captain was questioned about the origin of the Starlink system and relevant documents he was unable to submit any import, ownership, or other relevant documents. The equipment was confiscated as evidence for further investigation and legal action.
Upon checking the boat’s licence and crew qualifications, officers found them to be invalid, and charged the captain with operating a vessel in violation of the licence conditions and the Thai Maritime Navigation Act.
As the tour company had violated legal obligation to provide a tour guide the Marine police team filed a complaint against it with the Department of Tourism for further action.
Investigation is also being expanded into this company’s business structure and source of investment as suspicious information was found with the police team checking whether the company had used Thai nationals as nominees to circumvent legal restrictions.
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A Marine police team checking the fishing tour boat. Photos – Naewna
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