Crackdown on illegal motorbike taxis in Bangkok

Bangkok police have begun a crackdown on unauthorised operations of taxi motorcycles, after Wan Yoobamrung, a secretary to the transport minister, launched an inspection earlier this week and vowed to combat illegal operations based on mafia protection fees.

A meeting of traffic inspectors at all 88 police stations in Bangkok was held yesterday to discuss the cleanup. Each police station is rechecking registration details of motorcycle queues and finding out how many are operating unlawfully. The inspection and checking of registration details are to be completed in a month.

Bangkok police chief Pol Lt General Winai Thongsong vowed to take action against any police officers taking bribes or benefiting from the unlawful operations of unregistered queues.