Drug Crackdown In Patong Pubs

[orpheus454]

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.

I do actually have a fair amount of faith in the integrity of Australian police.

Indeed.

We are so fortunate that there's never been any corruption in the Queensland or New South Wales police forces...

[cognos]

What a strange cross-section of posters in this thread!

70% have less than 100 posts (half of them less than 10!)

27% have between 100 and 1,000 posts

3% have more than 1,000 posts.

I guess this is of little interest to the oldbies.

No, it's just that it is such a load of drivel, we don't care to jump in.

No where is it mentioned exactly where these testings took place, no where is it mentioned the percentage of foreigners vs. Thais tested, and lastly the thread at times is reduced to how unfair the Australian's are treated in their home country (booo....fing...hoo

Keep at it newbies, at least it's a hit count for TV.

...sometimes "less is more"...there are a million and one reasons why people post infrequently,and an equal number why people post a ton..I read the posts alot,learn some things and usually don't feel the need to comment.Each to their own.Cheers(apple juice)

[TheWorldandI]

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

With the word ATM I am sure have had encounter before. What circumstances? Any-from simple traffic violation to possession of narc. A bone can turn the most dangerous K-9 to the friendliest

Edited March 9, 2009 by TheWorldandI

[HakimKlunker]

Well where I am from, ....

If you like your country that much, then go back. (Wasn't it the one with chiefly criminal genetics?) On my behalf, I prefer to learn the differences, respond to them and make the best out of it.

[Beacher]

I've never used Yaba and don't plan to, but this type of activity is enough to keep me away from bars in Thailand. As one poster pointed out, false positive results sometimes occur. Imagine being thrown into a Thai prison just because you were foolish enough to give a Thai bar some business. I realize that a false positive isn't likely, but I still don't want to take any chances of having to go through such an ordeal. As a matter of fact, I think I'll stop going to Thai restaurants as well - gawd knows when they're going to start raiding them. "Okay everybody, stop eating, put down your forks, and pee into this cup."

[chefshane]

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.

I do actually have a fair amount of faith in the integrity of Australian police.

Indeed.

We are so fortunate that there's never been any corruption in the Queensland or New South Wales police forces...

hehehehehehe

good point.

But I meant on a one by one basis with the average Joe.

Getting stopped by cops and asked to pay money - or being able to pay within my means to avoid being written up if caught for traffic, parking, speeding etc.

Never happened.

(Once got hit up by Immigration for a $1500 bribe, and threatened to spill the beans and have the guy sacked and written up on the front page of the Herald. he backed off really quickly! - But that isn't police.)

QLD and NSW is mainly big ticket stuff between the big boys stitching up all the drugs, gambling, illegal sex and whatever else.

As a regular punter without a multinational company or a crime syndicate behind me, I tend to get left alone.

[balo]

Why do people do drugs in Thailand????

Why risk 10 years in a Thai prison ?

I just dont understand why, surely all the cheap alcohol and sexy girls must be enough ?

[geriatrickid]

The chance of a false positive is sufficient to create reasonable doubt, even in Thailand. That is why a positive test is supposed to be followed up with a blood test. Unfortunately, testing facilities in Thailand are no better than in the west which still leaves lots of room for misinterpretation and tainted results. If I wanted to show someone as a druggie it would be easy to do so. Nothing stops a corrupt official from paying off a hospital lab worker to provide a specific result if a shakedown is planned. More likely, the use of certain prescription drugs can create false positives even in the most prisitine of hospital labs.

The flash tests are sold with promises of a less than a 2% false positive rating, which in itself is scary, particularly if you are one of the 20 people out of 1000 tested that could be charged with a drug offence.

If you are charged under the results of such a test and are innocent, ask that your results and samples be retained. Ensure that a hair sample is taken. Hair retains drug residues over time. The most reliable tests for substances are chromotography and mass spectrometry, but the Thai police do not undertake such testing.

The Thai strategy is to shake the tree and see what falls out. In fairness to them, they are often right, but if you are the innocent person that gets screwed by the methodology, you are screwed.

[NBT TV Phuket]

item-2--- on VDO at http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/prev...hp?news_id=1009

Drug dealing suspects were caught in Patong.

Phuket Provincial Police Commander Apirak Hongthong and the Kathu Police Superintendent Krissak Songmoonnaak brought in several suspects who are reportedly involved with narcotic drugs dealing activities to present in front of the press. The first gang involved three people, Sarawut Nanjamrong, age 27, Banjong Phanjinda age 27 and Janpen Sweetman, age 36. They were caught with 20 tablets of amphetamine tablets. The second gang involved a 36 year old suspect, Krenjai Paepakone, who was arrested with 80 amphetamines seized as evidence and the third case involved two people, Wichai Kesornmala and Somjit Itha. These two were caught with cocaine and ecstasy pills, case and tools plus clients’ name lists. They were all caught in Kathu district and are being questioned and face conviction.

Andaman News NBT TV (VHF dial) + Radio Thailand FM90.5 at 8.30am & perhaps repeats on Phuket Cable TV channel 1 at 7pm & 1am, broadcast to Phang Nga, Krabi & Phuket provinces & maybe Mazz Radio FM108 at 7pm in Phuket, Wednesday 11th March 2009 & http://thainews.prd.go.th/newsenglish/

& www.YouTube.com/AndamanNews Send comments to [email protected]

[dude007]

Drug crackdown in Patong pubs

Drug testing kit used by the officers during the crackdown.

Photo: Phuket Gazette

PATONG, PHUKET: Kathu Police last night dispatched three groups of officers to conduct random drug checks of staff and patrons at nightclubs in Phuket.

One group of officers checked bars along Soi Bangla, another group checked bars along the beach road, and a third group went to Phang Muang and Sirirat Roads at the south end of Patong.

Kathu Police Inspector Nikorn Chootong told the Gazette that the crackdown was ordered by the Royal Thai Police following a reported increase in the use of ya bah (methamphetamine).

The inspection teams, of about 10 persons each, included district officials and female workers from the local public health office who took urine samples from everyone on the premises at each location and tested them for amphetamine use.

Three patrons of the Khon Lang Chang pub, on the road to Karon, tested positive when their urine turned the telltale purple.

The inspectors also checked for weapons and inspected identification cards to ensure no minors were present.

Pol Maj Nikorn said the random checks will continue next week.

-- Phuket Gazette 2009-03-07

That's exactly what Phuket tourism needs now: this silly show of the men in brown disturbing guests and tourists in their "preferred" spots where they know that their bosses are not "contributing enough" on a monthly basis to the police welfare. After the SARS, the Tsunami and the world recession, after the obvious police protection of the red taxi maffia in Phuket and the rip-off prices of every sort of transport, after the murder of a real estate agent, aafter the deadly fall from his balcony on th 6th floor of his Hotel by accident but still with a bottle of booze in his hands, now the show of the men in brown...

What else do they need to completely destroy tourism in this place? That is really what was missing!

You can clearly see that tourism in Phuket (and everywhere in Thailand) is on the decline from the behaviour of these men in brown...

How dumb from them... Phuket is becoming a lost place for every tourist from abroad and the news is spreading fast, very fast!

After Phuket, Thailand will quickly follow...

Happily, we have Cambodia and Laos nearby where things are getting better and better.

How dumb, how dumb!

[bniff]

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.

Wow! To the point and direct! I have to agree but the only part was the ugly Thai woman part, they are all beautiful, (and some lady boys too, wink wink...lol, my wife tells me who is lady boy and sometimes it amazes me).

[ScubaBuddha]

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.

And where are you from? You can always demand a re-test and sure, sit in jail until they'll retest you but you're not gonna die. Even if tested positive..you go through stationary procedure like you would do elsewhere. And yes, US or German cops can be nasty too...so no reason to wet your pants.

Yes, you can demand anything you want! lol And I am from the states, so it would be "wet my 'underwear'. lol

So as long as "you're not gonna die" then all is OK? Oh, that's good to know.

[deanosan3]

Here here,

Well said Chef Shane. You are 120% correct.

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.

[js1]

Heavens above, you mean there's a drug problem here in Phuket? I also heard a rumor that there could be prostitutes working in the bars? Can you believe my buddy scored the other night, and the saucy little minx asked for money in the morning!!

[merijn]

Don't make things worse then they are.

During the drug raids which were help in Patong only Thai staff members from the bars where tested and NO guest or tourists were tested.

[thaiwanderer]

Don't make things worse then they are.

During the drug raids which were help in Patong only Thai staff members from the bars where tested and NO guest or tourists were tested.

so you think drug using tourists being concerned they may be subject to a drug test is a bad thing???????

[LivinginKata]

so you think drug using tourists being concerned they may be subject to a drug test is a bad thing???????

Could be for an innocent tourist dealing with a corrupt cop...

[thaiwanderer]

so you think drug using tourists being concerned they may be subject to a drug test is a bad thing???????

Could be for an innocent tourist dealing with a corrupt cop...

as always

[Sir Burr]

I am shocked! Truly shocked!

For all the years I have been living here, I have been labouring under the mistaken belief that I was just a "cash-cow".

After reading this thread, it seems that I've been wrong.

Apparently, I'm a guest! Who would have thunk it?

Does this now entitle me to all the thing that guests get from their hosts?

Things like respect, genuine hospitality, politeness and a free beer?

[merijn]

Don't make things worse then they are.

During the drug raids which were help in Patong only Thai staff members from the bars where tested and NO guest or tourists were tested.

so you think drug using tourists being concerned they may be subject to a drug test is a bad thing???????

Off-course i don't think it is a bad thing as i condemn drug al together.

But as so many times a relative small story is getting bigger and bigger during the discussions on the forum.

I just tried to make clear that tourists who have nothing done wrong don’t have to fair the drug tests as they are not ( most of the times ) targeted to the tourist.

[Ping]

so you think drug using tourists being concerned they may be subject to a drug test is a bad thing???????

Could be for an innocent tourist dealing with a corrupt cop...

That takes cynicism to a whole new level. I'd be more concerned about them mucking up the test (accidental contamination) rather than deliberately targeting an innocent tourist. When you consider the impications of a corrupt BiB or two taking on such a risky venture as framing tourists for drugs, I doubt there'd be many taking the risk, no matter how corrupt they may happen to be.

[LivinLOS]

When you consider the impications of a corrupt BiB or two taking on such a risky venture as framing tourists for drugs, I doubt there'd be many taking the risk, no matter how corrupt they may happen to be.

Exactly that happened to my buddy..

Cost him a lot to sort it..