Have the raids started again??

Saw a brief note on one of the boards about some raids taking place. Has this happened?

As soon as the police (municipal / highway / tourist / DSI / immigration) gets suspicious they will start observing – and step in one day.

Only a suspect very closely related with some one superior he might be somewhat lucky being not that closely eyed by local police forces.

In order to “avoid “conflicts if interests quite often the special police force from Lat Phrao (blacks 999) steps in and will carry out all the job other forces are to lazy or “unable” to. One day they turn up without any prior notice to the local police force. This team is not into any discussions at all and very hard to deal with. They usually check everything: age control, passports and visa, drugs, “morality” (nudity, sex on premises etc.), and so on. And that’s for sure, they never get away empty handed….

Be aware that raiding venues or control of business has never stopped. Visa and work permit control are tightening throughout Thailand even in smaller villages outside the popular tourist areas.

What, drug test the whole bar? They actually do that?

They test all, clients, staff any anybody else hanging around as soon as the raid starts.

The testing equipment is lousy (btw. produced in a lab factory where a used to be very powerful person as owner urgently wanted to see some profits – and for sure, after a short while being in power, the profits where miraculously there. The police is a loyal customer) : the officers take samples of urine and check randomly for “artificial, chemical substance” in it. They are unable to identify any specific illegal drug. If you need to take some medicine, maybe you use i.e. “Viagra”, the test will simply indicate “drugs” for sure – and you might wonder what’s happened next: Endless hours of waiting in unpleased positions , photos are being taken on the location, later being carried away for further questioning and some more nasty moments. Single cells are rare but a bunch of good knows what kind of clientele will be around molesting you.

People who are involved often try to mix there urine samples with someone else unsuspicious. Some do have own experience and are very good with this; they twist the samples before labelling very quickly, unlucky if it’s yours …. As I mentioned before, discussion with the officers involved is no option. In a raid take care only about yourself and be hostile and cooperative to the officers. Be on alert, check everything very closely. Don’t rush even if they try to push you. If you see your test samples are going the wrong way just act quickly and smash your sample to break, apologise friendly and offer to give some them new once again. For sure that’s not the way to make new friends with the officers.

But I am pretty sure you can miss all the new friends you will make while being carried away as drug suspect and be involved in official crime proceedings. Do always call the Tourist police for assistance, any other is not much use for you. The Tourist police knew the at least English well enough to be able to sort out your problems. And its only there job to deal with people who an on tourist visa.

Best is, to stay away from trouble: including underage contacts, after hours drinking, cheap buys and drugs. If you get to know people who are on drugs, just run away as fast as you can. Do never carry stuff for anyone you are not completely certain of.

Yes, I have been in raids. No, I never had any problems. I’ll always try to be a good boy .. 

[TrongpaiExpat]

Nice post, good advise, ttom but lets not scare anyone. Has anyone or does anyone know anyone that has been goose-stepped off to the monkey house on any of these pee-pee raids?

I have been lucky and have escaped all these raids. I was going to Hollywood in BKK once and behind the 7-11 a few blocks down, I saw a huge formation of police and knew what was up. Another time I ran into another formation in the concorse of the subway station and made a 180.

These raids seem to occurr more on weekends, at around 11 and seem to be more in high season than low. They do not make the news much anymore and Thai TV news has long ago stopped running footage.

The few in number raids are nothing for farangs to worry about. I remember one where I was outside. I saw my best Thai friend inside the bar. I stood in front of the policemen at the door, I looked at my Thai friend, gave him an eye, and looked at my watch as if we were in a hurry to get somewhere. The policeman politely let my Thai friend out and we went on our merry way.