Popular Bangkok pub raided, scores of minors arrested as crackdown orders come from on high

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Popular Bangkok pub raided, scores of minors arrested as crackdown orders come from on high


Image: Manager Online

BANGKOK: -- A massive swoop by more than 100 officials was conducted today descending on one of Bangkok's most popular pubs early this morning.

The Ben Pub in the Ekachai Road area of Thonburi was busted for a whole range of offences while dozens of underage drinkers and drug takers were arrested. Drugs including ecstasy were found in the toilets and scattered on the floor reported Manager Online.

And it emerged that the club was allowed to operate after being raided before by soldiers last year. The justice ministry are investigating after orders for action came from the prime minister.

Venues operating illegally can expect to be closed for five years, said a member of the task force.

The swoop by soldiers, public welfare officials, local administration and police on Ben Pub happened at 1 am as more than 100 people were listening to loud music. Some 29 people were found to be under 20 - 14 boys and 15 girls. Fifteen people showed tell tale purple urine tests for drugs with eleven admitting ecstasy use, three meth amphetamine and one ketamine.


Image: Manager Online

Ecstasy tablets, ketamine in powder and liquid form and tramadol was found discarded under tables, on the floor and in the toilets.

Banjop Phermphoon, 34, who was looking after the pub was charged with operating without a license, operating after permitted hours, selling alcohol without a permit and selling alcohol to minors.

Head of the task force that mounted the raid Wisit Wisitsorn-at said that the matter about the operation of the pub has been referred to chief Paiboon Khumchaya of the justice ministry following orders from PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha. Apparently the club had opened in April last year and been raided twice before with no action taken despite the knowledge that illegal activities were going on.

Soldiers had carried out one raid in May of last year with positive drug tests recorded but no closure notice had been issued.

Another high ranking member of the task force Sakchai Tenghor said that the pub was a centre for drugs in the Bang Bon area and had been operating until between 3 and 4 am every day of the week. He said that this and similar establishments breaking the law would face closure of at least five years.

Underage youths were handed over to the care of public officials before parents and guardians were contacted to pick them up and be warned about their sons' and daughters' behavior.

Source: Manager Online


-- 2016-06-01

[4evermaat]

I presume next month they will be reopen for business? Yawn

[Chang_paarp]

They upset someone in the neighborhood. Someone with powerful friends.

[mesterm]

There's only one such club in Bangkok doing this?

Edited June 1, 2016 by mesterm

[AlQaholic]

They upset someone in the neighborhood. Someone with powerful friends.

Someone powerful just found out their kid was a frequent visitor....

[dunroaming]

Sounds like any club anywhere in the world. Why is this newsworthy?

[steveyinasia]

Easier target than getting a monk out of a temple.

[trogers]

Ban for at least 5 years?

Aww...another name and a new license...

But asset seizures, that would be the real deterrent!

[bark]

What about the Car Logo.

I guess they have permission from Bentley to use their Logo, and sell booze and drugs to minors ?

[Morakot]

The Ben Pub in the Ekachai Road area of Thonburi was busted for a whole range of offences

We presume none of the offences included trademark infringement...

[The manic]

Just like any good modern club anywhere in the world

[KKr]

Tramadol ???
someone must have had a headache from the loud music

[wooloomooloo]

Ecstasy tablets, ketamine in powder and liquid form and tramadol was found discarded under tables, on the floor and in the toilets.

If the police had raided some of the clubs and raves that I attended in London and home counties during the 80s and 90s, they could have filled the back of a small lorry with illicit substances.

Those were the days.

[WishWashMan]

There's only one such club in Bangkok doing this?

Do you know how to eat an elephant?

One bite at a time......................hahahaha.

A big Nana club has been impotnet since being raided. Good to see thiland being cleaned up......................

Edited June 1, 2016 by WishWashMan

[MockingJay]

Just a few days ago I told him, "Always grease the gear, Ben - ALWAYS grease the gear..."

[mcfish]

Tramadol ???

someone must have had a headache from the loud music

errr Tramadol and panadol are not quite the same, one is a synthetic opiate and the other is what you thought

[SiSePuede419]

You guys are jumping to conclusions.

Maybe this pub was named after the rat Michael Jackson sang about in that song?

555

[Siamwhiteelephant]

The Ben Pub in the Ekachai Road area of Thonburi was busted for a whole range of offences

We presume none of the offences included trademark infringement...

If trademark infringement, wonder if Bentley would seek legal proceedings against the club

[Siamwhiteelephant]

There's only one such club in Bangkok doing this?

Do you know how to eat an elephant?

One bite at a time......................hahahaha.

A big Nana club has been impotnet since being raided. Good to see thiland being cleaned up......................

So, maybe they've finally seen the elephant in the room.

[Rayk]

The Ben Pub in the Ekachai Road area of Thonburi was busted for a whole range of offences

We presume none of the offences included trademark infringement...

If trademark infringement, wonder if Bentley would seek legal proceedings against the club

Well we will certainly find out, as I just emailed their CEO a copy of this article. Edited June 1, 2016 by Rayk

[wooloomooloo]

If trademark infringement, wonder if Bentley would seek legal proceedings against the club

Not worth Bentley's time or effort.

[elgordo38]

As someone beat me to it they are just picking the low hanging fruit. Quote And it emerged that the club was allowed to operate after being raided before by soldiers last year unquote Why kill the goose that lays the golden egg. Brown envelopes and the doors will be open again come Monday. Its a financial merry go round.

[samsensam]

interesting they seemingly have to use agencies other then the police to enforce the law

[SOTIRIOS]

...yeah right.....

[syke1912]

The Ben Pub in the Ekachai Road area of Thonburi was busted for a whole range of offences

We presume none of the offences included trademark infringement...

If trademark infringement, wonder if Bentley would seek legal proceedings against the club

Well we will certainly find out, as I just emailed their CEO a copy of this article.

I am sure the CEO just called an emergency board meeting regarsing this travesty.

Expect a front page article in the Bangkok Post tomorrow!

[riverhigh]

Easier target than getting a monk out of a temple.

Much easier ... good to know that someone else is up-to-date on the monk situation. From my limited information I don't see how they can get the monk out without blood shed. Okay back to the real problem of underage drinkers ....

Edited June 1, 2016 by riverhigh

[wavemanwww]

It is clear that theThai police and Army officers that previouslely busted this establishment should be investigated as to why the penalty of 5 years closure was not enforced in the first place. Dahhhh. Clealy this was because payoffs were involved. Easy peasy to catch and punish those that take dirty money. So do it oh new army officer that just did same bust.

[Morakot]

Tramadol ???

someone must have had a headache from the loud music

Plus the person with the Ketamine must have brought an infirm horse to the show.

Edited June 1, 2016 by Morakot

[bangkapi]

A score is 20... 29 minors means almost a score and a half.... NOT scores of minors!

[connda]

Might be more fruitful to concentrate those 100 officers on targeting the source of those drugs, but as usual, harvesting the low hanging fruit is easy, productive, and makes great (albeit, boring) copy.