Drug Crackdown In Patong Pubs

[wackysleet]

When I read these stories it terrifies me. I have never used drugs, but the thought of a false positive, and subsequently being sent to the woefully overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison for who knows how long scares the hel_l out of me. From where I am from, this blatant violation of personal liberty would be unconscionable.

I might suggest that you take a look around you. This is not where you are from. It is their country, governed by their systems........however "blatant" they may seem to you. We are guest here. Expected to abide by same.

If your fear is of a "false positive test", then socialize at home with friends.

Same old same, we are guests here, look up the international rules on passports and travel.

[sg1]

When I read these stories it terrifies me. I have never used drugs, but the thought of a false positive, and subsequently being sent to the woefully overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison for who knows how long scares the hel_l out of me. From where I am from, this blatant violation of personal liberty would be unconscionable.

dont worry, the police done it for a while in bangkok, if you fail in the test on the night club /Bar you go for the hospital to make blood test ( which you pay for it ) if you fail this they will arrest you.

if you dont do drugs you should not worry !!!

cheers!!!

[wackysleet]

When I read these stories it terrifies me. I have never used drugs, but the thought of a false positive, and subsequently being sent to the woefully overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison for who knows how long scares the hel_l out of me. From where I am from, this blatant violation of personal liberty would be unconscionable.

I might suggest that you take a look around you. This is not where you are from. It is their country, governed by their systems........however "blatant" they may seem to you. We are guest here. Expected to abide by same.

If your fear is of a "false positive test", then socialize at home with friends.

Same old same, we are guests here, look up the international rules on passports and travel.

It would be very interesting to know just how many "guests" there are in the Kingdom and how much we expats actually contribute to the economy.

[humfurry]

My biggest fear wouldn't be testing positive...It would be...missing the cup and pissing on their shoes

[emubob]

Spoke to a friend this afternoon who was in Sofa last night in Phuket Town. Very much a Thai club with just a few foreigners but now the busiest and most popular place in Phuket Town. It was raided by the drug police last night. My friend got out just as they had arrived outside.

On a separate note there were 2 shootings that went unreported there a few weeks back too.

Am all for the police trying to get these people whether drugged up or carrying illegal weapons out of these clubs. Alcohol, drugs and violence just don't mix well.

[wackysleet]

My biggest fear wouldn't be testing positive...It would be...missing the cup and pissing on their shoes

humfurry,if you did mate it would be ten years and a poke up yuor humfurry for good measure.

[Sel]

I trust the Thai police 100% and they all know where the nearest ATM machine is, so have your card handy. Hey, they gotta make a living too (tongue firmly in cheek)... Welcome to LOS rolleyes.gif

I wonder if posters that make comments like this have ever had any personal situations/dealings involving the Thai police with such an outcome?

Or is the opinion based on hearsay or Chinese whispers?

Not disagreeing that it happens just interested in under what circumstances

[McLovin]

There is something 100 more powerful, and more dangerous that illicit drugs .... A corrupt police force, i.e criminals who wear brown.

[Murgatroyd]

Providing a urine sample, whilst unpleasant, is not a big deal... Those who speak of civil liberties should remember that they have chosen to be in Thailand, and that means abiding by The thai laws and practises.

Our home countries also have their "Wars on drugs".

America has exported it's war on drugs with great enthusiasm, granting or witholding aid packages according to the country in question's willingness to fall in line with DEA demands. And yet it's own cities are rife with drug taking, the current (and all previous) initiative has has no effect on the availability or use of drugs within American society, any more than prohibition had on booze.

The Uk is no better. Drug policy oscillates between grudging acceptance of the status quo, and renewed attempts to turn the clock back to the excesses of the '60's and '70's by the Special Patrol Group and the similar regional squads. I recall being given a good thumping myself by members of the SPG, who were so disappointed to find that I wasn't in possession of any controlled substances that they planted some in my pocket. Only the fact that I was subsequently found innocent at crown court served to restore my diminished respect for the UK justice system.

Yaba is a horribly addictive drug, based on a formula devised by Hitler's scientists to pep up his stormtroopers, and represents a big problem in Thailand... many workers in all sorts of jobs take it to enhance their ability to work the long hours required to earn enough money to support their families, and many women in the "Entertainment" industry use it to take the edge off the demeaning nature of their employment. Perhaps one of the worst effects that Yaba has on the community is the corruption of some law enforcement officials that are unable to resist a slice of the huge profits from the drug trade.

[harleyclarkey]

2 years ago I happened to be in a bar on Bangla with my Gf for a beer and lo and behold a police raid. I guess about 15 male BIB took samples from every girl! No foreigner was tested. The girls lined up in front of a desk with 2 police seated and were each handed a test kit which they returned after a trip to the loo. From the time I was there no girl tested positive. I just stood to the side while my Gf was tested. Not 1 girl seemed to be the slightest bit bothered about the raid. It took about 20 minutes and then it went back to "normal".

[howerski]

Its just that i don't trust the police in Thailand that much.

I trust the Thai police 100% and they all know where the nearest ATM machine is, so have your card handy. Hey, they gotta make a living too (tongue firmly in cheek)... Welcome to LOS

Ha ha. Probably true. I find it almost unbelievable that 30 police could only find 3 positive tests. I would have thought the numbers of people taking ya ba on a night out would be considerably higher. They'd probably had a big haul of viagra too

[barry]

IT WOULD APPEAR THAT BEING A LAND DEVELOPER AND/OR DRUG USER IN PATONG

CAN BE PRETTY NASTY OF LATE

[TPI]

Well where I am from, Invasion of civil liberties is not a once a month heads up from one district police checkpoint.

It is a steady slow erosion instigated by a strong, well equipped and ideologically driven Government.

Australia.

Random stops of cars to check registration, road worthiness, licensing, ID of occupants, random breath test, sniffer dogs and background checks. Like a "ten in one" checkpoint - only it is random, and well equipped with high tech gear.

Alcohol tests in cars have now extended to blood tests urine tests and sweat tests in bars, police stations and public locations

Fair enough? Keeping the roads safe?

Now police patrol bus stations, buses and even board trains with sniffer dogs.

Raids on bars and clubs in Sydney is not an invasion of human rights - it's a regular occurrence now moving from weekends to 24/7.

fair enough? Lots of bad people out there on the streets?

Well if you stay at home they now track internet usage, and censor the internet for all Australians to "protect the kids" - Even if you don't have any.

Yes. Those who don't have or even know / interact with any children are still restricted in what they can view or discuss online so the government can "protect" a small percentage of children and teens with irresponsible and downright bad parents.

The west leads the way in suppression of democracy and systematic erosion of civil liberties.

And all in the name of Democracy and Civil Liberties (for the people who think the same way they do)

Over here, nobody NEEDS or WANTS to look at pornography.

In Australia, you are now not allowed to - and prevented by high tech blanket censorship of the internet by a secret government controlled "blacklist" which nobody is allowed to know details of.

Which is why so many, who are able, are leaving this "nanny state" for saner climes. Believe me, Thailand is a beacon of common sense compared to Australia...where if it's not specifically allowed, it is forbidden!

I have a number of grandchildren, there is no way I could pick them up and give them a cuddle and a kiss in the street, with or without their parents present

[deanosan3]

It's funny, the government wants to crack down (and feel free to sensor me) on a $3.4B dollar underground business by cracking down on a few crack heads on Phuket worth a couple grand. OK, I'll believe it if you will. It's time for western people to get back to their home countries and begin the fight that needs to be fought. No more escaping like Fletcher Christian hoping it won't happen to you. It's happening to you. There is no place to run. Fight or die.

[deanosan3]

Keep running TPI. Is that what your Grandfather fought for in Gallipoli? So you'd run and hide to the nearest convenient international 7/11? "oh well, it's nothing I've done... government's out of control..." Yes you may be right. But at Gallipoli Australia lost 26,111 men. They died hoping that you would not have to move out of the country. You're right, when the going gets tough, the the weak fuc_k off. Yep, just another dumb nationalist....like the Thais you rave on about.

Well where I am from, Invasion of civil liberties is not a once a month heads up from one district police checkpoint.

It is a steady slow erosion instigated by a strong, well equipped and ideologically driven Government.

Australia.

Random stops of cars to check registration, road worthiness, licensing, ID of occupants, random breath test, sniffer dogs and background checks. Like a "ten in one" checkpoint - only it is random, and well equipped with high tech gear.

Alcohol tests in cars have now extended to blood tests urine tests and sweat tests in bars, police stations and public locations

Fair enough? Keeping the roads safe?

Now police patrol bus stations, buses and even board trains with sniffer dogs.

Raids on bars and clubs in Sydney is not an invasion of human rights - it's a regular occurrence now moving from weekends to 24/7.

fair enough? Lots of bad people out there on the streets?

Well if you stay at home they now track internet usage, and censor the internet for all Australians to "protect the kids" - Even if you don't have any.

Yes. Those who don't have or even know / interact with any children are still restricted in what they can view or discuss online so the government can "protect" a small percentage of children and teens with irresponsible and downright bad parents.

The west leads the way in suppression of democracy and systematic erosion of civil liberties.

And all in the name of Democracy and Civil Liberties (for the people who think the same way they do)

Over here, nobody NEEDS or WANTS to look at pornography.

In Australia, you are now not allowed to - and prevented by high tech blanket censorship of the internet by a secret government controlled "blacklist" which nobody is allowed to know details of.

Which is why so many, who are able, are leaving this "nanny state" for saner climes. Believe me, Thailand is a beacon of common sense compared to Australia...where if it's not specifically allowed, it is forbidden!

I have a number of grandchildren, there is no way I could pick them up and give them a cuddle and a kiss in the street, with or without their parents present

[wrecker]

Unfortunately is the test that the Thai police is using completely inadequate. I strongly believe that the test results enable certain officers to extort money from complete innocent people. Most vulnerable are of course foreigners both from neighboring countries as welle expatriates in need of a extension of their work-permits. But also students run the chance to be the victim of police extortion.

Urine coloring purple can have numerous causes. Even widely sold medicines as Tiffy, weight loss medicines and numerous other food supplements could give the impression that someone is using drugs. That is good news for the police who often refuse to ask labs to check upon each and every positive test. The results I am afraid, will show that the margin of error is staggering. Moreover, the police should not have the power to ask for urine samples, it is an intrusion in the life of many innocent people, The fact that people have nothing to hide if they have not used is the typical BS from the kind of right wing people who do seldom think that they should be part of the not so randomly chosen group of people who need to get their urine checked. The way the authorities work stink more than their samples do.

[FairwayJack]

I'm glad my pub hopping days were in the '90's. Never did drugs and never got tested. Those were the good ol' days.

[Sel]

That is good news for the police who often refuse to ask labs to check upon each and every positive test

Any stories you can point us to with a link or first hand experience?

[lovinglife]

Personally don't believe this is a plot to extort money from foreigners, much easier ways to do that. Drugs are bad news, both for the users but more importantly for those of us that don't indulge, the crime that is committed by addicts in order to get their hands on this stuff affects us all.

I personally would love to see more crackdowns and more efficient testing, and extend it to cover others like coke too. Most expat havens here are awash with that stuff, be interesting to see what some of these clowns are really like without their nose candy.

[FairwayJack]

Such a relief to be old, who could be bothered going out to a disco..noise etc...home is where the heart is...give me a good book anytime and a glass of vino, a few friends....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

lap sabai...

Hear Hear...well said although it can get pretty noisy at my house with our 3 kids rampaging about.

[johnefallis]

When I read these stories it terrifies me. I have never used drugs, but the thought of a false positive, and subsequently being sent to the woefully overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison for who knows how long scares the hel_l out of me. From where I am from, this blatant violation of personal liberty would be unconscionable.

I used drugs in the past but that is a long time ago, but i would be worried about a false positive too. Or about corrupt police trying to get you to pay up or frame you. Its just that i don't trust the police in Thailand that much.

My job is so easy on forums like this.

In order to make the chase a bit more challenging

Let me provide a few hints

The purple color is just how we actually bust you.

It is only so that you can understand why you are under arrest

No one needs that grape koolaid stuff any more

We first monitor the falang forums for evidence.

Drug use results in both paranoia & memory failure.

It also brings on an inflated sense of what constitutes personal liberty

wherever it was you were from...we flag occurrences of "personal liberty"

I think you boys are giving yourselves away.

Expect our visit a few minutes before 0500

even if you don't go to the speakeasy tonight

We never mistakenly haul anyone in.

The good citizens on innocent vacation

Remember everything,

Fear nothing,

Are concerned far more about personal responsibility back where they are from

We know they are clean just as they themselves do....it is written all over them.

If I was unexpectedly thrown into your position,

I'd quietly invest in window tint film, after market magnifying rear view mirrors and good tires

But above all,

don't let on that you are worried about it...

Narc Officers look first for the tiniest telltale hints of paranoia

insignificant things to the untrained eye,

eye twitches, scratching the side of the nose, moving feet while seated

This Slippery body language is like a beacon on a fog horn to us

Be bold,

have loads of personal liberty,

do your mess right out in the open,

because we always check the back rooms first.

Do your deals outdoors under a streetlight in bright clothing,

we will ever suspect that

Also, Our manual teaches that druggies collect and discard many women.

If you only ever are seen with the same respectable woman,

you can do whatever your personal liberty says.

Finally, Narc Officers are trained that exactly half of all Druggies prefer ugly women.

Make sure your one steady is pretty, and every other day you are safe.

Enjoy your stay in Thailand.

It's the things I didn't tell you that I will still bust you on.

So your paranoia is justified.

You won't necessarily need your memory

Your personal liberties will be returned in the same manila envelope as your jewelry and civilian clothing

along with your release papers and expulsion orders.

Oh yes,

There are no Visa formalities at the Phuket Provincial Prison,

we handle all your 90 day extensions

We are truly a one-stop accommodation.

SOUNDS LIKE THE RAMBLINGS OF A TWEEKER! HE'S RIGHT, THEY REALLY DO STAND OUT, HAHA!!!

[johnefallis]

Drug crackdown in Patong pubs...

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-03-07

Well, even before I decided not to waste money on airfare or hotels for a trip to Phuket, I had already stopped going out to the clubs and bars in Bangkok to avoid being hassled for being out spending money and having a good time. No doubt after significant investment in an evening, the police don't compensate for the expense and trouble to those that don't test positive.

Works out great for me, no taxi to pay for, no restaurant to pay for, no ladies drinks to buy, no suits to buy, beer is way cheaper, etc. All in all, it saves me a lot of money. My gf is really happy about it too!

Thanks TAT!

[drummachine]

My urine is tested routinely at work. I dont think one should be to worried, unless you on the red devil tablets from hel_l. Chiang Mai used to have regular checks in Bubble Disco and so on, I just used to walk out the door, stoned out my wee mind I was. Never stopped once, take a positive stride and dont stop.

Rave on.

[Badbanker]

Anyone who uses drugs and goes to night clubs have to worry!

Anyone who goes to a nightclub for some food, a drink, a dance and bit of ogling a few beautiful women is going to be fine. The backup testing at Thai Police Hospitals is actually very good and can track illicit drug use for 48 hours from their time of use.

I speak of this from the other side!

BB

[ericthai]

I trust the Thai police 100% and they all know where the nearest ATM machine is, so have your card handy. Hey, they gotta make a living too (tongue firmly in cheek)... Welcome to LOS rolleyes.gif

I wonder if posters that make comments like this have ever had any personal situations/dealings involving the Thai police with such an outcome?

Or is the opinion based on hearsay or Chinese whispers?

Not disagreeing that it happens just interested in under what circumstances

Have you been in thailand long? Maybe you dont go out anywhere or drive any place. I have never been in the bar and been tested, but Im always getting stopped by the police. Most of the time it's the usual 200 baht, but sometime you get the real greedy cop who wants 500 or 1000.

I drive between BKK and Surin, Sisaket at least 2-3 times a month. I budget 400 baht for police, as you have anywhere from 2-4 road stops. sometimes they make up an excuse other times they just say coffee money. Once you been here long enough you will know how the police work. Had a borther-in-law in jail for fighting with someone. Paid 20K he got out and everything went away, they justed waited the other guy out until he got tired of asking when there will be a court date. Talk to some Thai's they will tell you how the police are. Dont you ever see a group of the cops on the side of a street just waiting to stop everyone on motorbikes? Pal you need to open your eyes if you dont believe the cops are out for getting money and allot of times will do what they can to get you to pay.

[sangfroid]

Well where I am from, Invasion of civil liberties is not a once a month heads up from one district police checkpoint.

It is a steady slow erosion instigated by a strong, well equipped and ideologically driven Government.

Australia.

Random stops of cars to check registration, road worthiness, licensing, ID of occupants, random breath test, sniffer dogs and background checks. Like a "ten in one" checkpoint - only it is random, and well equipped with high tech gear.

Alcohol tests in cars have now extended to blood tests urine tests and sweat tests in bars, police stations and public locations

Fair enough? Keeping the roads safe?

Now police patrol bus stations, buses and even board trains with sniffer dogs.

Raids on bars and clubs in Sydney is not an invasion of human rights - it's a regular occurrence now moving from weekends to 24/7.

fair enough? Lots of bad people out there on the streets?

Well if you stay at home they now track internet usage, and censor the internet for all Australians to "protect the kids" - Even if you don't have any.

Yes. Those who don't have or even know / interact with any children are still restricted in what they can view or discuss online so the government can "protect" a small percentage of children and teens with irresponsible and downright bad parents.

The west leads the way in suppression of democracy and systematic erosion of civil liberties.

And all in the name of Democracy and Civil Liberties (for the people who think the same way they do)

Over here, nobody NEEDS or WANTS to look at pornography.

In Australia, you are now not allowed to - and prevented by high tech blanket censorship of the internet by a secret government controlled "blacklist" which nobody is allowed to know details of.

absolutely dead right!! i am from there as well. its the very reason i came to Thailand. people 'back home' always ask how do you put with the corruption etc, i just say how do you?

Can I join the refugees from Oz club guys!!

[sendbaht]

"Such a relief to be old, who could be bothered going out to a disco..noise etc...home is where the heart is...give me a good book anytime and a glass of vino, a few friends....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

lap sabai..."

I 2nd this post....

[nakachalet]

GRANTBKK

'Remember the national average IQ of around 89 goes all the way to the top.'

may i take exception to your specific comment cited above?

grant, you ought to know better! for any thai, born and raised in nonwestern educational arena,

to take an i.q. test, be it sb, wisc, wisa or miller which based their samplings on western cultures and practices....

is somewhat like a certified md from western country taking a medical board exam in thai....

how well would a western obgyn score? do you think such highly trained specialist would be able to score a comparable '89'?

also, a socre of '90-110' in sb or other intelligence tests is generally considered as in the normal range!

for a thailand born and raised person to score an '89' on a foreign iq test could be interpreted as quite satisfactory, don't you agree?

one other thing, in the study that you read, did it or did it not mention, whether the score of '89' applied to verbal or nonverbal performance?

grantbkk, any way thanks for your post which grants me an opportunity to respond. shalom.

[oshoshitzu]

Such a relief to be old, who could be bothered going out to a disco..noise etc...home is where the heart is...give me a good book anytime and a glass of vino, a few friends....zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz!!

lap sabai...

Hear Hear...well said although it can get pretty noisy at my house with our 3 kids rampaging about.

Thailand supposedly a Buddhist country: why not focus on alcohol? One of the most dangerous recreational drugs.

[MamsMitch]

When I read these stories it terrifies me. I have never used drugs, but the thought of a false positive, and subsequently being sent to the woefully overcrowded Phuket Provincial Prison for who knows how long scares the hel_l out of me. From where I am from, this blatant violation of personal liberty would be unconscionable.

Welcome to third worl countires... IF you want personal rights and human liberties you need to go home. It will be a long time before we see that here.