Almost 60,000 people were arrested in the first three months of a crackdown on Bangkok's notorious after-hours nightspots, brothels and gambling dens, police said on Monday. The social order campaign launched in August by Thai Interior Minister Purachai Piemsombun has sparked an uproar among bar owners, taxi drivers and others dependent on late-night trade.

Thai police spokesman Pongsapat Pongcharoen said the crackdown had resulted in 24,867 cases involving 58,894 people. Some 8,621 people were caught betting in Thailand's huge underground lottery while 540 people were busted for gambling on football matches, according to police.

Another 789 people were arrested for operating illegal nightclubs and 443 for keeping bars and nightclubs open past closing hours. Pongsapat added that 3,498 people were arrested for procuring women for prostitution and 343 for producing pornographic material.

The interior minister initially launched a crackdown on nightclub closing-hours in a bid to curb an epidemic of drug abuse and underage drinking among Thai youth. It was later extended to clamp down on other illicit activity. Bureau Report