Beware Ekami Bus Station

[balo]

The difficulty for the average farang is trying to distinguish between the real police, who do have a legal right to search you for drugs on demand, and the fake police who probably are trying to extort money.

Is there any difference ?

From my knowledge they all demand money

[brewsterbudgen]

Lesson here. I don't do bus stations in the US, I certainly don't do them here. That's why God invented cars and airplanes.

I will let you in on a little secret, man invented cars and airplanes, not some ghost you call God and his imaginary friends.

The cops are after any pills they say need a prescription , like Viagra and extort money from you if you don't have a copy of the prescription on you.

What would be the situation in a western country if unprescribed drugs were found on one's person?

[cgphuket]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

[dantilley]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one

My experience matches with yours, not quite as many trips to Pattaya though but a fair few. Also never seen any police.

[OMGImInPattaya]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

Well I'm farang and under 80...maybe I just don't get a seat up near the front very often...still, never seen any farang being questioned by a BIB when I do finally alight from the bus. Been on trains to CM, Krabi, and buses to/from Bangkok and Hua Hin, Chumporn and and again, never even seen any coppers.

I think this is more of an urban legend

Edited November 23, 2012 by OMGImInPattaya

[Briggsy]

This is absolutely not an urban legend. Just hang out at Ekamai and watch what happens. Of course if you get off the bus at the Orn Nuch Skytrain station, you won't see anything.

[williewolf]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

Then the rest are grabbed by "taxi" drivers trying to bundle them into their vehicles to take them to Nana Plaza!!!

[simple1]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

[brewsterbudgen]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

I live near Ekkamai and use the buses frequently. The police regularly check passengers disembarking from buses, and seem to have a profile for the people they choose to check. However, they do not check every bus (by any means) and they do not check every day.

[simple1]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

I live near Ekkamai and use the buses frequently. The police regularly check passengers disembarking from buses, and seem to have a profile for the people they choose to check. However, they do not check every bus (by any means) and they do not check every day.

OK, but I have never been approached by police, nor seen them doing so with other foreigners, departing or arriving at Ekamai traveling between BKK & Pattaya - approx 20 times at different times & days of the week

[brewsterbudgen]

OK, but I have never been approached by police, nor seen them doing so with other foreigners, departing or arriving at Ekamai traveling between BKK & Pattaya - approx 20 times at different times & days of the week

You've been lucky!

[Briggsy]

OK, but I have never been approached by police, nor seen them doing so with other foreigners, departing or arriving at Ekamai traveling between BKK & Pattaya - approx 20 times at different times & days of the week

You've been lucky!

Indeed. Or more likely you don't fit the profile. Note they don't target the people departing from Ekamai but only those arriving.

Try to look more like a noob the next time you get off a Pattaya bus. Ensure you are male. Ensure you are alone. Have just a daypack with you. And look like a drug user. And try to look shifty but lost at the same time. Look like it is your first time to pass through Ekamai bus station. Do this 50 times and you will surely get pulled.

[dollarman]

The "police man" tried to stop me too one time last year, but I just screamed at him that he was not a police and show me your ID, and I just walked away. Aggressive body language and tone was my way out of it . He did not have police uniform, and looked more like a mototaxi driver.

I had two bags with me that time. I have traveled the same route with just 1 small bag many times later without any problems.

Edited December 4, 2012 by dollarman

[OMGImInPattaya]

OK, but I have never been approached by police, nor seen them doing so with other foreigners, departing or arriving at Ekamai traveling between BKK & Pattaya - approx 20 times at different times & days of the week

You've been lucky!

Indeed. Or more likely you don't fit the profile. Note they don't target the people departing from Ekamai but only those arriving.

Try to look more like a noob the next time you get off a Pattaya bus. Ensure you are male. Ensure you are alone. Have just a daypack with you. And look like a drug user. And try to look shifty but lost at the same time. Look like it is your first time to pass through Ekamai bus station. Do this 50 times and you will surely get pulled.

Had occasion to make the Pattaya to Bangkok return bus trip again to attend the motor show and again not a copper in sight...either when we arrived or on departure. Again, this whole topic is more an urban myth (that they frequent the station to harass or specifically target foreigners).

[stiggy]

Been stopped and politely searched twice here in Thailand

Been stopped on bike several times and searched ( at road block with others)

Every time given a thank you and told to move on no problem.

Only fleecing I have encountered has been when driving a car BS fines, and customs officials with importing stock.

[cgphuket]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

Never mind. Can't fix stupid.

[simple1]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

Never mind. Can't fix stupid.

You talking about my post? The comment infers that the BIB wait for all buses arriving at Ekami from tourist destinations, this is not factual.

[brewsterbudgen]

You talking about my post? The comment infers that the BIB wait for all buses arriving at Ekami from tourist destinations, this is not factual.

Nobody has said they wait for all buses. However, it is common knowledge to anyone who regularly uses the service that they often wait for buses and tend to target male farangs. It is certainly not a myth.

[simple1]

You talking about my post? The comment infers that the BIB wait for all buses arriving at Ekami from tourist destinations, this is not factual.

Nobody has said they wait for all buses. However, it is common knowledge to anyone who regularly uses the service that they often wait for buses and tend to target male farangs. It is certainly not a myth.

OK

[balo]

I have never been stopped.

If you don't dress like a tourist , wear long pants and act normally , you will be threated like a local.

[Briggsy]

I have never been stopped.

If you don't dress like a tourist , wear long pants and act normally , you will be threated like a local.

You're right. But noobs look like noobs and that is how the police spot their mark through their noob look. Only a non-noob would know to dress like a non-noob.

[retiredat50]

Lived in Thailand for 15 years...been on the Bangkok to Pattaya bus and back maybe 50-75 times and never even seen a cop...let alone been accosted by one ang under 80 who steps off.

Then you have your eyes closed at Ekamai. They wait for buses coming from resort destinations and grab the first Farang under 80 who steps off.

BS

This happened to me. I believe I was the first guy getting off the bus from Pattaya a few years ago and i was stopped and asked to show my passport and show what's in my bag. That's the one and only time I have taken that bus.

[rak sa_ngop]

Over 10 years travelling in Thailand, caught the bus to Pattaya and other destinations from Ekkamai many times and I never saw a cop, plain or otherwise.

AND THEN it happened to me. About 6 months ago coming off the bus from Ko Samet. I normally get off the bus at Bang Na but this time the bus would not stop. Me and a mate stepped off the bus, dashed into the toilet (too tall to use the one on board) and then made the mistake of turning right and sauntering past the front where 2 or 3 plain clothes police were bored and waiting. Searched through all our bags, pockets etc. Checked passport, but not visa.

Moral of the story: when you get off the bus dash to the toilet and then turn LEFT on existing the toilet to avoid being frisked.

[philthebook]

I got stopped at Ekami about 4 years ago coming back from Pattaya, had 3 cops search all my stuff and they found 8 valiums, cost me 10,000 to stop them from taking me to the station (I was already in the cop car)