Dealing in dodgy goods? If so, then Phuket provincial officials say they'll soon come calling. In a move designed to shut down trading in stolen goods, (Palad) Piya Bharatasilpin, Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer, recently called for government and police officials to collaborate on making sure secondhand goods dealers stay honest.

Checks of all shops were to begin last week. Phuket has registered more than 200 dealing in secondhand goods, he said, and many buy stolen government property, such as copper cable and water meters. Warnings will come first--and legal charges will follow--if shops don't abide by the law.

Currently, Thai law provides a minimum punishment of 1,000 baht and no less than six months in jail for receiving stolen property. The maximum is a fine up to 20,000 baht and up to 10 years in jail.

New measures intended to keep secondhand stores honest include requiring records of all goods bought, with complete description of the transaction--including the seller. Also, Bharatasilpin said, officials will identify illegal secondhand goods shops and work with them to become properly registered else face legal action.