Beware Police At Ekkamai Bus Station

[samran]

simple rules, don't do anything in thailand that you wouldn't do at home.

errr like carry a packet of Viagra in your bag?

Seems pretty innocent to me!

guy had no prescription....

[Maigo6]

what is it with you and thais, are you one ?......

No, I'm Farang, it's just that I don't think they're ( Thai people ) all out to get me.

It's like the Farangs complaining about the cops stopping them for not wearing a crash helmet, the fact that Thai people are stopped and fined goes over their head, like the helmet should have been on their head.

If Farangs are stopped just because they are Farangs, why are Thai people stopped ? Because they are Thai ?

I used to know Black guys in the UK who would complain about racism if they were stopped in their cars by the Police, the fact that white people were also getting stopped wasn't important to them, they just felt everything was against them just because they're black.

The same as so many Farangs think everything in Thailand is against them and the Thai people are all out to get them......it's total rubbish and totally paranoid, but, it's not unusual for minorities to feel this way in any country.

Edited October 3, 2009 by Maigo6

[brewsterbudgen]

what is it with you and thais, are you one ?......

No, I'm Farang, it's just that I don't think they're ( Thai people ) all out to get me.

It's like the Farangs complaining about the cops stopping them for not wearing a crash helmet, the fact that Thai people are stopped and fined goes over their head, like the helmet should have been on their head.

If Farangs are stopped just because they are Farangs, why are Thai people stopped ? Because they are Thai ?

I used to know Black guys in the UK who would complain about racism if they were stopped in their cars by the Police, the fact that white people were also getting stopped wasn't important to them, they just felt everything was against them just because they're black.

The same as so many Farangs think everything in Thailand is against them and the Thai people are all out to get them......it's total rubbish and totally paranoid, but, it's not unusual for minorities to feel this way in any country.

I couldn't agree more. However, 15,000 is definitely a "farang fine" and should have been negotiated down or not paid - if the story is actually true!

[H2oDunc]

.Once again we have a farang breaking the law by buying illegally, a prescription drug and transporting it around the country then whining about the fact he has been saved from prison by police relieving him of money. far from it giving the Thai police a bad image it to me gives the tourists visiting the Country a bad image. Like the farang crying foul for having to pay the police money for not wearing the required crash helmet ? It would be a different story if they had planted the viagra on your friend but they didn't. Your friend has learnt a valuable lesson and needs to think himself lucky I think!

Dunc,. if that isnt tongue in cheek id be very surprised, you can buy viagra in any pharmacy and a prescription is never asked for,.so shall we all buy whilst secretly fiming the transaction and take the sellers down with us, next you will be saying you have never paid for a "bit of entertainment" ,.come on, you are beginning to sound like a pipe and slippers person, not a biker ! .this nicking was nothing better than extortion from a farang, period, !

By your logic then because I can by any amount of illegal drugs in most resorts then it is OK ? If the police catch me with a big lump of cannabis and they want money to forget aout it the police are they bad guys ? It is illegal no matter how many people do it. My gripe is that it is always the bad Thai cop! Nothing to do with the law breaking farang is it ? I'm not saying I think badly of the guy for using viagra, I'm not. My point is he broke the law, got caught and paid some money to get out of the crap. Take it like a man not a girl and don,t whinge about it. As said if the cops had planted the stuff on him then OK post about the bad Thai policemen etc. When I first came to Thailand I got very drunk and decided to ride the bike home. I got stopped speeding without a helmet, the wrong way down a one way street totally drunk. The police fined me 500 baht and let me go. I didn't whinge or whine I thanked my lucky stars I was not back home where I would have probably ended up in jail, lost my license and had my already extorinate insurance premiums triple. Now see my point ?

There was another posting about getting caught coming back from a visa run with viagra and the guy paid a hel_l of a lot more than this idiot.

[bkkdawg]

.Once again we have a farang breaking the law by buying illegally, a prescription drug and transporting it around the country then whining about the fact he has been saved from prison by police relieving him of money. far from it giving the Thai police a bad image it to me gives the tourists visiting the Country a bad image. Like the farang crying foul for having to pay the police money for not wearing the required crash helmet ? It would be a different story if they had planted the viagra on your friend but they didn't. Your friend has learnt a valuable lesson and needs to think himself lucky I think!

Viagra is LEGAL in Thailand Doughhhhhhhhhh!

[jalansanitwong]

I dont see what all the fuss is about. Its got nothing to do with the silly viagra pills .Theyre nothing. The cops sized up the farang and guessed he was a goose and on this occassion they were right. Ive never had a problem with the cops in 10 years in LOS. If a cop demanded 15,000 b (even 1,000b)from me i would laugh and tell them in Thai that i am calling one of my Thai buddies up at Chatuchak district. They know what that means.Go away farang paipai!!!Its always about the money. Its a game anyone can win.Up to you!

[mauGR1]

While i knew that some people get searched in Ekkamai Bus Station(i got searched once too)i have to admit i didn't know that you need prescription for the magic blue pills.I am sure not many people know it either.

btw 15000 B. seems to be rather harsh a fine,i am sure the OP's friend could have bargained it a little bit.

Now,given the popularity of TV Forum,i predict a huge increase in Viagra prescriptions.Anybody got one already?

[Gary A]

It's a simple thing. It's extortion and they are becoming more brazen every day.

[Tod Daniels]

The real Southern Bus Terminal will be surprised to find that out.

I stand (not sit) humbly corrected;

Eastern Bus Terminal Ekami: Serves East

South Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai): Serves West & South

Good to know at least someone's reading my posts..

[A_Traveller]

Just to return to the subject, can anyone point out the legal requirement to carry the issuing prescription for medication? Must admit I've never heard of it, which doesn't mean it is non-existent, but if a patient is provided prescription medication, say for a treatment period of 3 months must they carry the issuing certificate for the period [e.g angina medication springs to mind, though thankfully thus far not personally]

By the by I've never heard of an issuing process which requires the practitioner to be identifiable by discipline, anyone show that 'link'?

Regards

[frankthetank]

I bought some viagra from a pharmacy in Sukhumvit, I asked for a receipt.

The guy serving me said "you not worry, lady not need see receipt, she will know you have viagra, very soon"!

[mca]

you not worry, lady not need see receipt, she will know you have viagra, very soon"!

So Frank you were served by Yoda?

[imaneggspurt]

15000 baht fine = scammed, how many thais have instant access to 15000 baht when they are a catching a bus ? And what happens to all these ladies in pattaya who are caught with sleeping pills trying to drug foriengers are they made to pay high fines or go to jail ? I would not think a fine of 15000 baht is the real fine for not having a prescription!!

Exactly, when they see a farang they see $$ signs, and as long as these guys keep handing over 15000 baht the word will get about and it can only get worse,.

[imaneggspurt]

It's a simple thing. It's extortion and they are becoming more brazen every day.

Thats what im saying as well Gary, there are some members that are missing the point, hands up all thais that have been fined 15000 baht for having viagra on them !,i wont hold my breath,.....

[imaneggspurt]

.Once again we have a farang breaking the law by buying illegally, a prescription drug and transporting it around the country then whining about the fact he has been saved from prison by police relieving him of money. far from it giving the Thai police a bad image it to me gives the tourists visiting the Country a bad image. Like the farang crying foul for having to pay the police money for not wearing the required crash helmet ? It would be a different story if they had planted the viagra on your friend but they didn't. Your friend has learnt a valuable lesson and needs to think himself lucky I think!

Dunc,. if that isnt tongue in cheek id be very surprised, you can buy viagra in any pharmacy and a prescription is never asked for,.so shall we all buy whilst secretly fiming the transaction and take the sellers down with us, next you will be saying you have never paid for a "bit of entertainment" ,.come on, you are beginning to sound like a pipe and slippers person, not a biker ! .this nicking was nothing better than extortion from a farang, period, !

By your logic then because I can by any amount of illegal drugs in most resorts then it is OK ? If the police catch me with a big lump of cannabis and they want money to forget aout it the police are they bad guys ? It is illegal no matter how many people do it. My gripe is that it is always the bad Thai cop! Nothing to do with the law breaking farang is it ? I'm not saying I think badly of the guy for using viagra, I'm not. My point is he broke the law, got caught and paid some money to get out of the crap. Take it like a man not a girl and don,t whinge about it. As said if the cops had planted the stuff on him then OK post about the bad Thai policemen etc. When I first came to Thailand I got very drunk and decided to ride the bike home. I got stopped speeding without a helmet, the wrong way down a one way street totally drunk. The police fined me 500 baht and let me go. I didn't whinge or whine I thanked my lucky stars I was not back home where I would have probably ended up in jail, lost my license and had my already extorinate insurance premiums triple. Now see my point ?

There was another posting about getting caught coming back from a visa run with viagra and the guy paid a hel_l of a lot more than this idiot.

"By your logic then because I can by any amount of illegal drugs in most resorts then it is OK ?".Ive not said or implied that, youre mssing the point, its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...not all are as worldly as others, things like this make me scratch my head and think they really dont want tourists back, if this had happened to me on my maiden voyage to thailand it would also be my last,....... Edited October 3, 2009 by imaneggspurt

[chiang mai]

Just to return to the subject, can anyone point out the legal requirement to carry the issuing prescription for medication? Must admit I've never heard of it, which doesn't mean it is non-existent, but if a patient is provided prescription medication, say for a treatment period of 3 months must they carry the issuing certificate for the period [e.g angina medication springs to mind, though thankfully thus far not personally]

By the by I've never heard of an issuing process which requires the practitioner to be identifiable by discipline, anyone show that 'link'?

Regards

Exactly. Viagra and the like are legal if prescribed by a doctor or a licensed pharmacist and there is no requirement for the patient to carry a prescription. The OP was scammed and perhaps should have called their bluff.

[Maigo6]

Exactly, when they see a farang they see $$ signs, and as long as these guys keep handing over 15000 baht the word will get about and it can only get worse,.

Until Farangs learn to live by the laws of the land.

[Maigo6]

its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...

No it's not.

If a Thai guy was caught with illegal drugs, do you think he would walk away ?

No chance, he would now be in Jail unless he was rich enough to pay the bribe in the first place, just like the Farang.

Edited October 3, 2009 by Maigo6

[imaneggspurt]

Exactly, when they see a farang they see $ signs, and as long as these guys keep handing over 15000 baht the word will get about and it can only get worse,.

Until Farangs learn to live by the laws of the land.

Glad you are happy with the dual pricing,.

[imaneggspurt]

its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...

No it's not.

If a Thai guy was caught with illegal drugs, do you think he would walk away ?

No, of course not, but his "drink" will have been a lot less ,Il say it one more time for the hard of hearing,,,,,,its a them and us thing, and dual pricing at its best,..let me ask you, would you have paid the 15k ? , Edited October 3, 2009 by imaneggspurt

[Maigo6]

its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...

No it's not.

If a Thai guy was caught with illegal drugs, do you think he would walk away ?

No, of course not, but his "drink" will have been a lot less ,Il say it one more time for the hard of hearing,,,,,,its a them and us thing, and dual pricing at its best,..let me ask you, would you have paid the 15k ? ,

If it was a choice between being prosecuted under Thai Law, or paying a bribe ?

I'd pay.

Would I have bargained with the Police Officers, yes, I'm quite sure the offending Farang paid too much, but then again, he should not have anything illegal on him in the first place.

It don't really matter what drugs he had on him, if it's illegal, it's illegal, so a price has to be paid.

He got off lightly, I would have asked him for 50,000 Baht if I were a Thai cop.

Edited October 3, 2009 by Maigo6

[imaneggspurt]

its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...

No it's not.

If a Thai guy was caught with illegal drugs, do you think he would walk away ?

No, of course not, but his "drink" will have been a lot less ,Il say it one more time for the hard of hearing,,,,,,its a them and us thing, and dual pricing at its best,..let me ask you, would you have paid the 15k ? ,

If it was a choice between being prosecuted under Thai Law, or paying a bribe ?

I'd pay.

Would I have bargained with the Police Officers, yes, I'm quite sure the offending Farang paid too much, but then again, he should not have anything illegal on him in the first place.

It don't really matter what drugs he had on him, if it's illegal, it's illegal, so a price has to be paid.

He got off lightly, I would have asked him for 50,000 Baht if I were a Thai cop.

Oh yes, those viagras are real killers, ,,

[Maigo6]

Oh yes, those viagras are real killers, ,,

Very true, in some cases they can be killers. ( Heart Attacks )

That is why a prescription is needed.

Is Ganja a Killer ? No of course not, yet it's illegal, and we accept it's illegal, if we get caught with it, will we pay a bribe or go to court ?

Edited October 3, 2009 by Maigo6

[gpdjohn]

its an "us and them " thing,..they are out to rip foreigners off, full stop,...

No it's not.

If a Thai guy was caught with illegal drugs, do you think he would walk away ?

No, of course not, but his "drink" will have been a lot less ,Il say it one more time for the hard of hearing,,,,,,its a them and us thing, and dual pricing at its best,..let me ask you, would you have paid the 15k ? ,

If it was a choice between being prosecuted under Thai Law, or paying a bribe ?

I'd pay.

Would I have bargained with the Police Officers, yes, I'm quite sure the offending Farang paid too much, but then again, he should not have anything illegal on him in the first place.

It don't really matter what drugs he had on him, if it's illegal, it's illegal, so a price has to be paid.

He got off lightly, I would have asked him for 50,000 Baht if I were a Thai cop.

You think on the low end...I would have asked for at least 100,000 and let him bargin it down to 50k

If you're going to be a crooked cop, go all the way.

[syd barrett]

I've been stopped by police at Ekkamai, but never searched. They just said, where have you been, where are you going.

I recommend that farang never enter a police box and allow a body/bag search. This could lead to a set-up; they might plant drugs on you and that would lead to jail and fines.

Instead just stand your ground. Demand to be taken to a proper police station where you can be searched in front of witnesses and always demand to speak to the Embassy (not that it will do any good, but it looks business-like).

The number of stories I'm hearing about corrupt Thai Police now, it is getting just like Nigeria.

BTW there was a group of six Pattaya police standing outside Tuk Com today randomly searching farangs.

[Maigo6]

At the end of the day, the Farang criminal was caught, he paid his money and walked, then he complained, after he walked.

Did you see how he was hoping for the case to be resolved without a visit to the Police Station, asking the cop to call his boss etc etc .. ?

So he accepts corruption, until he has to pay the money, if he didn't accept corruption, why did he pay ?

Typical Farang.

[Maigo6]

BTW there was a group of six Pattaya police standing outside Tuk Com today randomly searching farangs.

Good news, maybe Pattaya will be a safer place.

[Maigo6]

You think on the low end...I would have asked for at least 100,000 and let him bargin it down to 50k

If you're going to be a crooked cop, go all the way.

lol.. Right...

Many Farangs are scared of their own shadows in Thailand, 100k would have done.

My young sis in law is finishing Uni next year, I've told her to get a government job, the basic pay is <deleted>, but the benefits are good !

[keestha]

Might be an old tradition at Ekkamai. In the period 1992-2000 I used the Thai public transport very extensively, and the only place where I was ever stopped and searched (up to the present date) was Ekkamai, in 1993. It never happened at the Southern Bus Terminal, where I passed through far more often.

[Maigo6]

Might be an old tradition at Ekkamai. In the period 1992-2000 I used the Thai public transport very extensively, and the only place where I was ever stopped and searched (up to the present date) was Ekkamai, in 1993. It never happened at the Southern Bus Terminal, where I passed through far more often.

Me too,

Ekamai is the only place I've ever got stopped in Thailand and had my bag searched, not even at the airport have I ever been searched or had my bag opened, but it was only one time, and that must have been 16 - 17 years ago.

Then again, they did catch quite a few Foreigners with drugs during the stop and search operations.

I don't know why people would be concerned if they are clean, same as going on an international flight, sometimes it's a pain in the azz, but if a potential shoe bomber was stopped getting on our flight, we wouldn't compalin about security.