Pattaya Police and Immigration Authorities Inspect Entertainment Venues for Illegal Foreigners and Overstays

[webfact]

Picture: Siam Rath

 

On the evening of April 23, 2023, the Pattaya police collaborated with the Immigration and Tourist Police to inspect various entertainment venues in Pattaya City.

 

Their primary aim was to identify and remove any illegal foreigners who might have overstayed their visas or entered the country unlawfully, reported Siam Rath.

 

The mission was carried out with the participation of over 50 tourist police officers and investigative police officers. 

 

The operation was conducted in accordance with the policies of Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakpal, Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Police, and Pol. Lt. Gen. Itthipol Itthisaronchai, Commander-in-Chief of Police Region 2, and was overseen by Pol Maj Gen Kumpol Leelaprapaporn, Chief of Police in Chonburi Province.

 

During the inspection, the team visited the Hollywood Pub located on Phetchtrakul Road and found tover 300 tourists, both Thai and foreigners.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The officers immediately called in a search team and segregated the Thai nationals from the foreigners, as well as the men from the women.

 

Next, the team meticulously scrutinized identity cards and passports in search of anyone who might have entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas. In addition, the authorities administered urine tests for drugs to everyone present at the location, including the employees.

 

Picture: Siam Rath

 

The team tested 81 Chinese people, 28 Hong Kong people, 27 Koreans, 3 Taiwanese, 2 Laotians, and 41 employees. Fortunately, no illicit substances were discovered, and nobody was found to be overstaying their visas or entering the country unlawfully.

 

Joint operations such as these are essential to ensuring that foreigners in Thailand abide by the laws and regulations of the country.

 

The successful outcome of this operation underscores the importance of such collaborations in maintaining the safety and security of both citizens and tourists in Thailand.

 

-- © Copyright  ASEAN NOW 2023-04-24

 

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[sniggie]

Well, that's well over a hundred visitors having their evening ruined for apparently no end result. Maybe the police's intelligence was faulty. I'm sure that this information will get back to the relevant countries and deter many others from visiting despite the best work of TAT. 

[Peterw42]

That's the trouble with searching Chinese, an hour later and you feel like searching again

[mikebell]

15 minutes ago, webfact said:

The successful outcome of this operation underscores the importance of such collaborations

between the police and the raided establishments.  (In advance of the raid.)

[jacko45k]

At 10.30 pm there were 300 in there...... I thought they would still be sweeping up getting ready at that time.

[ChipButty]

Joint operations such as these are essential to ensuring that foreigners DONT come back to Thailand 

[smedly]

who wants to come here and be subjected to this sort of abuse, these people were actually detained for doing absolutly nothing wrong

[bob smith]

what a complete waste of time and money.

 

urine tests. my god....

 

1984, Pattaya 4.0

 

 

[Karma80]

Wonderful. Now we should expect prohibition type raids on entertainment venues with visas and drug tests. Meanwhile, you can buy the drugs next door or at any of the weed stores that outnumber 7-11's. Or perhaps one of the girls who you have been buying drinks for all night, who are definately "not" prostitutes, could vouch for you. I'm also sure it's just coincidence that only East Asians were targeted. Ah Amazing Thailand.

 

Fun fact thought. Koreans who smoke cannabis or use drugs illegal in Korea, but legal in the country they actually partake, can be sentenced for up to 5 years in prison on their return to Korea.

[ezzra]

This must be the 3rd or 4th such announcement i have rad in these pages lately, either the problem is really, really need attention or is just something to write about, a sort of page filler because i can't see the need for such announcements, is it? the police doing what they supposed to do.

Edited April 24, 2023 by ezzra

[ChipButty]

5 minutes ago, smedly said:

who wants to come here and be subjected to this sort of abuse, these people were actually detained for doing absolutly nothing wrong

It's definitely not funny, I was caught up in one many years ago in BKK, first thing all the lights go on and the music stops, In our case even though we was clear we were made to stay there until they were complete. and we couldn't buy another drink. 

[BangkokReady]

54 minutes ago, webfact said:

The successful outcome of this operation underscores the importance of such collaborations in maintaining the safety and security of both citizens and tourists in Thailand.

How does it do this?

[Celsius]

57 minutes ago, webfact said:

The officers immediately called in a search team and segregated the Thai nationals from the foreigners, as well as the men from the women.

 

Did foreigners have to pay for urine test?

[Walker88]

I do enjoy the 'official-ness' of such raids.

 

Last year I was visiting Nana Plaza and early in the evening police performed a 'surprise' raid on agogos. Each agogo had to produce 5 women to take a urine test ("Okay, who's not using today?"). Each test was marked with a bar and a woman's name, and all were placed neatly on a large table just inside the entrance to NEP. There were maybe 50-60 beakers containing bargirl urine, and a number of officers sat bolt upright behind the table.

 

I thought that some wag just walking into NEP might think that the police had established a new money-making fetish business. "I'll take a beaker of #250 from Butterflies, provided it comes with a Certificate of Authenticity".

[nigelforbes]

"The team tested 81 Chinese people, 28 Hong Kong people, 27 Koreans, 3 Taiwanese, 2 Laotians, and 41 employees".

 

Not a single white westerner in the bunch, you get the idea who they are after (and it aint you)..

[mran66]

Over 300 tested in a local nightlife venue and not a single drug positive found...pretty much as credible as no prostitution found in Soi 6.

[webfact]

Pattaya Police Raid Nightclub for Overstayers and Drugs, Find Neither
By Tanakorn Panyadee

 

 

Pattaya — Pattaya Police raided a nightclub for overstayers at 10:30 PM last night, April 23rd.

The raided club “Hollywood” is situated on Petchtrakul Road. 50 police officers and immigration searched the venue in accordance with the policy of Deputy National Police Chief Pol. Gen. Surachet Hakparn, to crack down on foreigners illegally residing in Thailand or operating criminal enterprises.

 

About 300 patrons both domestic and foreign alike were discovered inside the nightclub. The authorities ordered venue operators to turn off the music and opened the lights before separating foreigners from Thais for passport and drug tests. The latter was imposed on both groups.

 

Full story: https://thepattayanews.com/2023/04/24/pattaya-police-raid-nightclub-for-overstayers-and-drugs-find-neither/

 

-- © Copyright The Pattaya News 2023-04-24

 

- Cigna offers a range of visa-compliant plans that meet the minimum requirement of medical treatment, including COVID-19, up to THB 3m. For more information on all expat health insurance plans click here.

 

The most versatile and flexible rental investment and holiday home solution in Thailand - click for more information.

[HappyExpat57]

So are we now required to carry our passports when out on the town?

[JoePai]

9 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

So are we now required to carry our passports when out on the town?

T’was always so

[wimpy]

Hope they checked the fire escapes while they were there.

[DPKANKAN]

44 minutes ago, HappyExpat57 said:

So are we now required to carry our passports when out on the town?

I never take mine out ever. I have a credit card size copy of main passport page, with a copy of my visa date stamp on the back. Never been a problem showing that!!

[Millcx]

Good source of revenue for them

[Henk Langeweg]

Just passport number needed, they have an App to check your status.

[ThaiFelix]

What are they diverting our attention from this time?

[Bangkok Barry]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

Joint operations such as these are essential to ensuring that foreigners in Thailand abide by the laws and regulations of the country.

...and ensuring that by treating guests to the country as potential criminals they never return.

[cnx101]

3 hours ago, Celsius said:

 

Did foreigners have to pay for urine test?

Yes and the salaries for the over 50 tourist police 

[ozimoron]

1 minute ago, Bangkok Barry said:

...and ensuring that by treating guests to the country as potential criminals they never return.

They are aware that "tourist" overstays are increasing rapidly and the point is to make sure those never return.

 

I can't imagine being deterred by a simple passport check. Or a urine check.

[malibukid]

they may want to take a look at Phuket as well

[Bangkok Barry]

1 minute ago, ozimoron said:

They are aware that "tourist" overstays are increasing rapidly and the point is to make sure those never return.

 

I can't imagine being deterred by a simple passport check. Or a urine check.

Well, I wonder how other countries cope. I've never heard of security forces touring tourist areas demanding to see proof that they have a right to be in the country. Maybe in North Korea? I don't know. Do you?

[ozimoron]

Just now, Bangkok Barry said:

Well, I wonder how other countries cope. I've never heard of security forces touring tourist areas demanding to see proof that they have a right to be in the country. Maybe in North Korea? I don't know. Do you?

I do know. It's a regular event in the Philippines as well. Or was a few years ago when I was there.