airport mafia fighting back at SVB

by **izzix** » September 30, 2007, 11:26 pm

Bangkok Post
30 Sep 2007

Drive against airport's illegal taxis losing steam;
Mafia gangs trying hard to bring them back

By Wassayos Ngamkham

Chairs are in short supply in this dining area arranged for immigration police at Suvarnabhumi airport.

Police are worried illegal taxi drivers and tour guides will reappear at Suvarnabhumi airport under the influence of three mafia gangs, which still flourish thanks to alleged support by high-ranking military officers and politicians.

Despite success in tackling them in recent months, some persistent taxi drivers and tourist guides have been seen recently at the airport, as the state crackdown on these illegal businesses begins to lose steam.

"They will come back if our suppression efforts tail off," said deputy commissioner of Police Region 1 Wut Liptapanlop.

One tour agent at the airport claimed police reduced the fines they imposed on taxi drivers, which persuaded them to come back to the airport to run their illegal service again.

Pol Maj-Gen Wut said police had arrested 320 illegal taxi drivers and tour guides since June 1 in a joint operation between tourist police and the Airports of Thailand to wipe out illegal
A passenger takes a taxi at Suvarnabhumi airport. The new airport has drawn complaints from cabbies that illegal taxis were hurting their business.

Many wrongdoers were found affiliated to 36 companies which run 3,000 taxis altogether, Pol Maj-Gen Wut said.

The firms are reportedly directed by three mafia gangs.

Police know about the gangs, but have not been able to reach the people who run them.

Most familiar to the police are three mafia figures, identified as "Je Tik," with alleged connections to a military general, "Puyai Daeng," who claimed he was a close aide to a politician, and "Sak Pak Phanang," leader of an influential group from Nakhon Si Thammarat.

Many taxi drivers and tour guides were willing to pay money to these gangs in exchange for protection against police and airport officials, so they can go in and out the airport freely.

Among the arrested wrongdoers, 35 have been caught twice or more before.

Illegal taxi drivers are fined 2,000 baht at the most if they break the vehicle law.

Pol Maj-Gen Wut said the Revenue Department had been asked to enforce a tax law against the 36 companies, which earned money illegally.

The law demands that they report to the government their earnings and pay tax.

Violators would be jailed and fined up to two million baht.

The mafia gangs, whose taxis run an average of 350 trips a day, had made nearly 275 million baht since the airport officially opened on Sept 28 last year, according to police.

"We have to suppress them because illegal taxi drivers often rob and injure passengers, which mars the country's image," Pol Maj-Gen Wut said.

by **mally** » September 30, 2007, 11:40 pm

I THINK I always use the 'legal' taxis, but how do you know for sure ? I always use the booking desk on the exit to the airport and avoid the 'touts' who hassle you as you leave the arrival hall. Anyone know for sure if this will avoid the illegal guys, and if not, what other precautions you should take. I'm sure that there are many others who like me arrive in BKK with enough cash to see me right through my stay, so I'm very vunerable on the transfer journey from Suv Airport.

by **JimboPSM** » October 1, 2007, 1:44 am

I try to avoid the touts by taking a taxi that is dropping off departing passengers.

by **Ricohoc** » October 1, 2007, 6:42 am

mally, I do the same as you. I avoid all the hassles and just go stand in line with the rest upon exiting baggage claim. So far, that has worked well.

Does anyone know if this is the best way to avoid the illegal taxis?

by **hey you** » October 6, 2007, 5:13 am

i am sorry i can not help ricohoc to avoid the illegal taxi because i do not know what they look like. when i arrive in bkk i go to the limo company if i have my bicycle with me otherwise i go to the taxi stand. at suv airport you get a card with the taxi drivers name on it. at suv. jimbopsm method of picking up a taxi has a small flaw if all the taxis drop their passengers of at the correct place, to get to the taxi you have to cross four lanes of traffic and there is no way of stopping it .just one of the small flaws in the airport design.

by **JimboPSM** » October 6, 2007, 5:55 am

When I leave the baggage hall at Swampy I take an escalator up to the Departures level and cross to the central island where the taxis drop off departing passengers (I've not experienced any problem crossing the traffic to get there).

I may have been lucky so far, but I've never had to wait more than a few seconds to get a taxi, the drivers are all eager to get a passenger straight away rather than going into the official queue and waiting for who knows how long.

The last time I did this was in April so it is quite possible that things may have changed since then.

by **marshallb66** » October 6, 2007, 7:43 am

I travel to Bangkok every 3 weeks or so from Burma and travel from the international airport to Don Muang domestic airport by taxi.

I always go upstairs to the departure level; (two levels up from the arrivals hall) go across the road to where the taxis drop of departing passengers.
The police are there blowing their whistles to hurry the taxis away but I always get a taxi instantly. I have learnt to ask the driver if he will take me to Don Muang and I tell him I want the meter as some driver refuse as they say it is too far or they are near shift change.

I have done this trip dozens of times with out any hassles.
You avoid, a some times long queue of people waiting at the designated taxi stand, you save the 50 Baht surcharge.

I use the toll way. Taxi fee and toll way together is about 400 Baht.
Usually just a 40 minute ride.

by **rickfarang** » October 6, 2007, 11:28 pm

I am pretty sure that the touts who try to talk you into a "taxi" as you leave the baggage or customs area are the ones that the police are trying to crack down on. It seems that none of us messes with these guys, and it seems best that we continue to give them the cold shoulder.

The taxis that are assigned to us at the taxi desk are legitimate and licensed to operate out of the airport. These are ok to take, but be careful that the clerk at the desk doesn't sell you a flat rate trip for 400 baht if that's not what you want.

Taking taxis that are dropping off departing passengers is popular, and the taxis are (often) licensed, and you save 50 baht by not going to the taxi desk, but you loose the opportunity to make the guy quake in his boots by waving the mail-in card with his license number on it, if he tries to take you for a ride, can't turn on the meter, or gives you any other grief.

.

by **Ricohoc** » October 6, 2007, 11:31 pm

Good advice, rickfarang!

by **izzix** » October 6, 2007, 11:52 pm

i always remember that taxi driver a few years back who used slit the throats of new arrivals and rob them .we are all carrying mega amounts and they know it .
its the booth for me as there is a record of anything goes wrong .

by **JimboPSM** » October 19, 2007, 3:11 pm

Arrived Swampy yesterday, there were still quite a few touts around, politely bypassed them taking moving walkway (for trolley) to top floor.

Immediately (not even time for a cigarette) got taxi which was dropping off passengers from central island top floor.

Fare agreed at 300 to Sukhumvit Soi 20.

by **wokkawombat** » October 19, 2007, 3:56 pm

I came in about 10:30 pm on the second of October, went down a level then back up a level as i forgot they had changed it around to a metered taxi. They tried to sell a 400 baht ticket but I took a metered cab. Total cost to Suk soi 4 was 350 baht including a 50 baht tip.

by **stoneman** » October 19, 2007, 3:59 pm

JimboPSM wrote:Arrived Swampy yesterday, there were still quite a few touts around, politely bypassed them taking moving walkway (for trolley) to top floor.

Immediately (not even time for a cigarette) got taxi which was dropping off passengers from central island top floor.

Fare agreed at 300 to Sukhumvit Soi 20.

Jimbo...

You could have gotten one of the touts for 300 baht and saved yourself pushing the luggage cart... I think that trip should be under 200 baht...

by **teddysmix** » October 20, 2007, 5:59 am

Hi can someone tell me is the taxi desk situated at the next level down from international arrivals...... thanks

by **wokkawombat** » October 20, 2007, 10:24 am

Teddy, the Taxi desk is now on the same level as arrivals.

John

airport mafia fighting back at SVB

airport mafia fighting back at SVB

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