Reports emerging of police drug testing scam in Bangkok

[sambum]

Can someone enlighten me and tell me what this word "scamming" (in the headline) 's got to do with this?

I would have thought that 4 words give it away:-

"police drug testing scam"

The word "scam" is rather connotative - inflationary usage made it quite meaningless.

Fake promises, fake cops - only two examples out of many.

scam

skam/

noun

informal

1. 1.

   a dishonest scheme; a fraud.

   "an insurance scam"

   synonyms: fraud, swindle, fraudulent scheme, racket, trick;

[WitawatWatawit]

Is the use of pot actually illegal in Thailand, or only the possession?

I asked that a while ago on a different forum and never got an answer

Here's the answer: yes - use illegal, possession illegal.

[micmichd]

Thank you. And where's the scam in the OP story?

I wouldn't like to be forced to pee in a box - but I would never call it "scam"

[micmichd]

I love Thailand becausein my heart I'm an anarchist.

But feel free to post

"I hate Thailand because they scam you to pee in a box"

[Maestro]

Removed a nonsensical post and the replies to it.

[Strangebrew]

No Problem I will Tell My Senator who Is head of the state department to Ban all travel to Thailand Till they stop this harrassment of Tourists and maybe look in to booting Thai's out of US.

[Jasun]

Shame this continues to happen, as if the dodgy traffic incidents weren't bad enough. It's not new news either, it's always been recommended to stick to the Lumphini side of Asok when walking around at night. It's always worth carrying your ID and, if you're concerned, enough money to cover any on-the-spot fines.

[jacko45k]

It's current news.

As it keeps happening every day.

It's really a major concern for me, causing me to avoid major areas in Bangkok.

Fortunately I will be out of here tomorrow.

It's old news because it's been happening for years!

Well there are plenty of crimes that have been part of life for centuries, but surely we still need to report on them, particularly their increased incidence.

[SoiBiker]

Has the incidence actually increased, though? Or has there simply been a cluster of mentions on social media that the press have latched onto and turned into a panic?

[jspill]

It's possible that there is both an increased incidence, AND that social media is blowing it out of proportion. The two aren't mutually exclusive.

Naturally young men will be up in arms reciting rage against the machine lyrics, that's normal, doesn't mean an element of corrupt police aren't out extorting people.

Edited December 9, 2014 by jspill

[Friendly Stranger]

Send it around the world. Till it goes viral! Then maybe T.A.T. will wake up.

I don't think it's TAT that needs to be woken up.

[captspectre]

Isn't this old news? http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/781621-surge-of-reported-police-harassment-suggests-campaign-targeting-tourists-expats/

Maybe it is but in my humble opinion they should write about it as much as possible... Bravo Thai Visa !!! Maybe this will change something and put stop to this insanity

you can write about it in thai visa everyday but until it gets out to the thai population in general and the politicians and tourist agenciesand international press, it will do no good to write here.how about a letter to the editor of the new york times, the london daily mail, and the san francisco chronicle? that WOULD DO MORE GOOD!

[Dogmatix]

"...urine samples can test as positive due to the use of a contaminated container, for example."

Would not surprise me whatsoever...

The other problem is that tourists arriving from overseas may not have gone "dry" before arriving and they are arrested for urine content and not on actually taking drugs while in Thailand.

What is the Thai law about possession of drugs in urine or bloodstream rather than on person? A British tourist is doing a year in Tunisia for possession of cannabis traces in his bloodstream as a result of a visit to an Amsterdam coffee shop during a stopover on route to Tunis. That stays in the bloodstream for up to 90 days. I don't believe that traces in bloodstream is an offence in developed countries.

Taking cold medicine that is available over the counter in the UK and most other countries and only in hospitals in Thailand will cause a positive test for amphetamines due to similarities of chemical profile of pseudoephedrine with amphetamines.

Can you be arrested for having Viagra, Sidagra etc in your pocket, even though it is sold openly over the counter by nearly all Thai pharmacies and foreigners don't know that the are supposed to ask for a prescription. I think they can.

What are the laws about stop and search in Thailand? I have been told that police can only do it if they set up an authorised checkpoint with a red triangle and a flashing red light like you see at drink driving checkpoints. Also that a commissioned officer (2nd lt or higher) must be present.

Is it legal to force people to do pee tests by the side of the road? I am pretty sure it is not. If it were, this would discriminate against men, as police would probably not dare force women to remove their panties and squat down in the gutter, lest they be accused of sexual assault. When they force pee tests in pubs they have to let women do them in the toilets.

Can TV organise some legal advise for members on this?

[Dogmatix]

Having twice had to fend off demands for B20,000 from police who claimed I had failed a breathalyser but refused to let me see the reading on their cheap toy breathalysers when I could not have been over the limit, I believe that the concern that police will deliberately fake positive dope results is a real and present danger to farangs who seem to be racially profiled for these tests. Many police could turn breathalysers positive by breathing in them themselves and could do the same with the dope tests by contaminating them with their own pee.

Edited December 9, 2014 by Dogmatix

[ExPratt]

maybe its an "Under the influence of..........." offence , it cant be possession

[micmichd]

Make sure you compare the situation in Thailand to the situation back home before you complain. I've been told that certain areas in the USA are not so secure either, and you better have some cash if you need to go there.

[2fishin2]

Make sure you compare the situation in Thailand to the situation back home before you complain. I've been told that certain areas in the USA are not so secure either, and you better have some cash if you need to go there.

What the <deleted> is this crazy comment about?

[ExPratt]

Is an offence to consume.http://www.hg.org/article.asp?id=19508

Offenses: The two predominant drug related statutes are the Narcotics Act 2522(1979) and the Psychotropic Substances Act 2518 (1975). The Narcotics Act regulates drugs that cause significant psychological or mental effects, require increased dosage, and cause withdrawal symptoms when the user is deprived of the substance. The act prohibits consumption, possession, sale, production, advertising, licensing, distribution, or any other involvement with the listed substances. Any offense under the Narcotics Act qualifies as the predicate offenses for a conspiracy charge. Substances regulated under the act are divided into five categories:

Category I -Dangerous Narcotics such as Heroin
Category II-Ordinary Narcotics such as Opium and Cocaine
Category III-Narcotics in Medicinal form that include Category II Substances
Category IV-Chemicals used for producing Category I & II Substances
Category V-Narcotics not in Category I-IV such as Marijuana

[kingalfred]

Refuse to give urine test and ask for consular representation from your country's embassy.

[Dogmatix]

I came along Sukhumvit in a taxi about an hour ago, there was police loitering around the entrances to soi 5 and soi 11 with walkie talkies in hand communicating with other police officers positioned slightly further away from the entrances to the soi's, (probably eyeing up intended targets). Also a huge police presence at the major traffic lights at Asoke. I have nothing to worry about as far as testing positive for a urine sample but just their mere presence is very intimidating.

I walked right past them today and they never gave me a second glance. They have been doing that for years. What they are doing is telling the next guy down the road that a farang is smoking and to watch out for where he throws the butt.

You toss a giggie on the street and they take you to their little box explain you have littered, fine you 2000 baht and give you an official receipt............and no they don't ask you to pee in a pot.

Those are mainly unarmed municipal police who have no power to arrest or fine people. All they can do is call one of their police buddies to the scene, if you opt to stick around and listen to their BS in pathetic broken English. Their job is mainly to kept illegal vendors off side walks which they don't do.

[thesetat2013]

Make sure you compare the situation in Thailand to the situation back home before you complain. I've been told that certain areas in the USA are not so secure either, and you better have some cash if you need to go there.

You heard wrong

[Arkady]

Deleted by Arkady

[steve654]

The thought is still scary, especially to the elderly who visit Thailand.

[Partigo]

Micmichd , now your on the ball - 'we the people' are in a global struggle to get the law of the (various) lands to serve and protect the people they represent.

"We've got guns..."

"No inspector, what you have are bullets...and the hope that when your bullets are gone I'm not standing."

"My turn....".

[soalbundy]

Refuse to give urine test and ask for consular representation from your country's embassy.

and a doctor for your cuts bruises

[ZAKY]

Its a shame ! The law should be amended to make the urine test of young and beautiful girls compulsory !

[soalbundy]

Its a shame ! The law should be amended to make the urine test of young and beautiful girls compulsory !

urine fetish ?

[micmichd]

Make sure you compare the situation in Thailand to the situation back home before you complain. I've been told that certain areas in the USA are not so secure either, and you better have some cash if you need to go there.

You heard wrong[/quoted]

Yes I know. But that was public opinion about the USA in the 70s, and it is still widely believed - at least in German rural areas.

[maidee]

if no drugs were to be found on a person during a search, i would decline to do a drug test... what if you took some in your home country and now are here on a holliday.... is it the business of the police to go find users or DEALERS ?

what about all those nice nigerians you can still see on sukumvit ... they are there openly dealing ... on what visa are they here ? are they ever tested ?

the police is looking for a new supply of fresh tea money ... can't bribe them anymore, lol, or you get fined 10k or what that their reward when they could sting you out for a bribe in stead of a ticket ...

TRP is the leading organised crime ring in this country

if you are too poor or too stupid to be a politician, than a policeman is the next best thing to do ...

[Laughing Gravy]

This is a constant for Thai people (being tested by the police and then asked for money). It has nothing to do with the new leadership.

Whilst you are right that Thais get this hassle constantly. I disagree with you that it is the new leadership causing this on Tourists, indirectly. All the vendors taken away (less Tea money for the police). plus all the other avenues that the military have taken over. It is exactly the new leadership causing this. It doesn't take a genius to work out that this can have a negative affect on tourism, and those who are leading the country at the moment. Yes there have always been the odd tests in the tourist areas but as mentioned by many this is a constant activity now and the Police are not doing it for the benefit of the country. In fact the opposite.