JemJem

8 hours ago, Shocked farang said:

Pattaya is a world known "brothel city",  yet prostitution is supposed to be forbidden in the kingdom. For how long will the kingdom bury it's head in the sand? How about adressing prostitution regulations? How about getting these bar girls out of the legal limbo they live in? 

I am sure that in the not too distant past, almost none of us had thought that weed would be somewhat legalised in Thailand one day (although of course there is now a question mark about its future status). Also, since about 1-2 years ago, legalisation of casinos is being talked about, and this might yet happen. Maybe 2-3 years later.

So, who knows. Maybe several years later, prostitution will be legalised.  With some strict provisions, limits etc of course. Maybe, we are still 5-10 years away from it though. Thailand is not ready for that yet.

I mean, change DOES happen in this part of the world. Unlike, say, in most parts of the Middle East.

On 6/30/2025 at 11:33 PM, Georgealbert said:

 

Picture courtesy of Khaosod.

 

Thai customs officers at Suvarnabhumi Airport have arrested a Canadian national attempting to smuggle over three kilograms of heroin cleverly concealed in women’s handbags. The man, who was en route to Taiwan, now faces serious drug trafficking charges under the law.

 

The arrest took place on the morning of 30 June, after customs officials became suspicious of the man’s luggage due to its unusual weight and bulkiness. An X-ray scan revealed suspicious items consistent with narcotics, prompting authorities to conduct a detailed inspection.

 

Inside the suitcase, officers discovered several brown and black women’s handbags, along with ordinary clothing and shoes. A closer inspection of the suitcase’s internal walls revealed grey fabric packages wrapped in black tape. These packages, once opened, were found to contain carbon paper and clear plastic bags filled with white powder, which later tested positive for heroin.

 

Further inspection of the two handbags revealed even more heroin. Officials noticed fresh stitching on the sides of the bags, which appeared unusually thick. After cutting into the lining, they discovered additional grey packages, also containing heroin.

 

The total weight of the seized narcotics was 3,235 grams with an estimated street value of over 1 million baht.

 

The Canadian suspect was preparing to board a China Airlines flight from Bangkok to Taoyuan International Airport in Taiwan. He has been charged with attempting to smuggle Category 1 narcotics (heroin) out of the country. The case has been handed over to the Narcotics Suppression Bureau for further investigation, including inquiries into any broader trafficking network.

 

A spokesperson for Thailand’s Customs Department revealed that between October 2024 and 30 June 2025, officers have intercepted heroin in 28 separate cases, totalling nearly 98 kilograms in seizures.

 

  Adapted by Asean Now from Khoasod 2025-07-01

 

 

 

Strange.

Usually, the caught person's full name and age are written in such news in Thailand. For this one, no such details. I wonder why.

On 7/3/2025 at 9:38 AM, connda said:

 

 

 

Grand forum.  Pasty white AN members displaying their full range of ethnocentrism and cultural insensitivity.

White good; Brown bad.  

Really - you people truly disgust me.  This is where this forum has fallen to over the last few years.  From the AN owners who allow it, right down to the individual members displaying this open racism?  You should all be ashamed. 

I'm out.................

Relax, man.

I am sure there are a few guys who write such stuff out of racism, but I think most do it just for a laugh. Over the years, I have seen various nationalities being stereotyped here. In negative, positive and 'neutral' ways. So, just chill, man.

On 7/3/2025 at 9:31 AM, Jai Yen said:

A  lady who was known to walk beach road told a  similar story -  4 Indian guys offering 500 baht -  combined  - for some fun

Gees ? Really ? 125 baht per person, you mean ? Lol. I am guessing and hoping that she said no to that offer 🙂

By the way, what is the going rate these days ? I mean, for 1 on 1 of course, not 4 on 1, lol.

Asking for a friend of a friend 😉

On 6/29/2025 at 6:10 AM, grumpyoldman said:

Bye-bye hotel deposit, see you back in Oz mate.

 

Still beats the UK.

Oh, this whole thing is gonna cost him a lot more than the hotel deposit. As far as I know, hotel deposits in Thailand, unlike apartment/condo deposits, are just a few thousand baht. He might have to fork out tens of thousands of baht. The damage doesn't look minimal at all.

Also, as in most such cases, we will probably never know what exactly caused him to act like this. 

19 hours ago, daveAustin said:

Could be a bluff 😉

I agree. I mean, I think there is at least 50 percent chance that it is some kind of bluff.

59 minutes ago, John Drake said:

Shins continue to get everything they want. They've now completely outmaneuvered everyone. Say what you will, but Prayuth was better.

I am not sure if Prayuth was better, but you are right in what you wrote in your first 2 sentences. Do you think the Shins will be in power for many many more years to come (I mean, even after the next election) ? 

2 hours ago, Purdey said:

Mechai, the condom king, did a lot to ensure condom use. However, I hear some of those already infected with HIV aren't always using condoms as they don't want to tell their partner they have it.

On a bit of a side note, Mechai was the one who started the chain (restaurant/cafe) named 'Cabbages and Condoms' 🙂

I think that sadly it is a matter of time before the visa exempt period will be reduced back to 30 days. We know that they have been thinking about this for some time. And, with incidents like this one, it will probably happen. I still hope it won't.

I am puzzled and saddened that some posters have praised the beating of the men. Those tourists may have behaved terribly, but you don't kick the head of someone, man. It could result in death or serious injury.

Such incidents also cause an increase in nationalist feelings and attitudes, which is never a good thing. I am saying this regardless of the origin country of nationalism.

Good decision, but it doesn't say for how long he has been blacklisted.

And, how about other troublemakers ? We don't know if they have been blacklisted. The Swiss guy who assaulted a Thai woman (near a beach ?) and a Russian guy who was punching people at random in Pattaya have come to my mind now. Of course, there have been many other cases involving foreigners at fault.

Sadly, this is major bad news for the remaining hostages and their loved ones.

But, the thing is, it was obvious that the negotiations were getting nowhere, and that Bibi felt he had to take action again.

But, we cannot say Bibi has handled the whole deal thing well. In fact, he handled it badly, I feel. Too much was given to Hamas in return for the freed hostages, and this most probably emboldened Hamas. Not to mention, they got the time they needed to regroup.

When and how will this whole thing end ? Well, your guess is as good as mine.

The very first thing that comes to my mind when I watch such a video is that it will likely reflect badly on all of us foreigners. And, might result in something negative for us eventually. For example, the ease of getting a visa.

Still early days, folks. There are 3 possibilities :

1. They might not go ahead with this at all.

2. They will go ahead with it, and make it 30 days again.

3. They might change it back to 30 days for some nationalities only.

Anyway, if they make it 30 days again, it is best to apply for a tourist visa. Especially if one plans to stay for 3 months. So, first, one can use the 2 month-stay that the tourist visa enables them, and then get a 1-month extension within Thailand. Of course, the requirements and the difficulty to get the tourist visa changes from Thai embassy/consulate to Thai embassy/consulate.

Sadly, if they do plan to go ahead with this, it is also worth noting that the chances are high that they will also get more strict with the border runs too. Not just border runs of course. I mean, also with folks who try to get consecutive visa exempt stays via air travel.

Times are changing,folks. And, looking like, for worse. 

Hmmm, why do I get the feeling that the chances are 99 percent that we won't get to see that list ? 🙂 At least, not the real list.

I think that in many parts of the globe, the coming years (sadly possibly many many years) will see the continuing of terror incidents and threats coming from Islamofascist groups/lone wolves, as well as the increasing terror incidents and threats coming from ethnofascist/nationalistfascist groups/lone wolves like the one described here.

I wish these two would fight it out heavily against each other, but, as we know, it sadly does not work that way.

Check out the photo where the guy is smiling, and the policewoman is across from him, with her gun drawn. I wonder, if at that point, she had shot him dead, what would the consequences be for her ?

I mean, for example, could she get away with minimal or no punishment, by saying that she killed him due to concern that he may have had a bomb/suicide vest ?!

An overstay of 603 days? Wow. Lol. 

On 2/6/2025 at 11:57 AM, Photoguy21 said:

Until the whole story comes out everything will be speculation

So true. And, it is no way guaranteed that the whole story will come out. 

Well, we will just have to wait and see. 

Those are nasty punches. What the heck was that all about? Possibly drug-related. 

There seems to be a barrage of bad news in recent days. 

Is this the very first time such a decision has been made for Bangkok? I mean, this 'free public transport due to air pollution'. I cannot recall one from before, but, of course it may have happened. 

Holy gee. Just look at the amounts of money mentioned in the original post. Sex really DOES sell 🙂 And, in this case, it is not even necessarily sex itself, but X and R rated stuff 🙂

On 1/12/2025 at 12:37 PM, steven100 said:

just another low life taxi driver ... plenty of them here.

I hope he's fined and jailed.   

Yes. 

And, it sounds like the victim will most probably carry a major scar on his face for the rest of his life. I think that there should be an extra, heavy punishment (on top of the regular 'causing injury' charge) for such an attack. I mean, one that causes permanent or long-term damage to the body. 

4 hours ago, novacova said:

In the US it’s a federal offense, smoke on a plane and become a certified felon.

Wow. I didn't know that. And, possibly a very lengthy flying ban? 

I doubt very much that the punishment for these 3 will be half as strict as that. Just a guess. 

Of all the countries he could have gone to, him choosing Cambodia, the country of the victim, is really weird.

Also, he was able to be brought back to Thailand almost immediately after his arrest. Wow. Interesting. 

On 1/2/2025 at 6:35 AM, Lacessit said:

This event will give legs to Trump wanting to ban Muslim immigration.

Well, I had actually thought that Trump would say some real harsh words after this terror attack, maybe also including a pledge for a 'Muslim ban'. I am still quite sure there is a high chance he is planning something like that soon after he comes to power (Would it be able to overcome legal obstacles to it, no idea, I am no expert), but his staying relatively quiet on this issue now is interesting. I wonder why.