Random police checking for drugs

[norwaygeir]

I went out for a walk arround 2300, and got stopped by two police officers driving their motorcycle on the walkway. They went through my pockets, socks, emptyed my wallet, full body check, saying "you have drugs".  I'm 36 years old,  never been checked befor (never in homecountry, or on hollyday or at customs). I don't fit the profile of a drug user, no tattos, no dredlocks, no fishermanspants, and I where sober,  They stopped me between sukhumit soi 8 and 10. 

I was scared they plant some drugs on me, so nervous. At the end one of the police men starting playing with my bank id (small electric devise same size as a 5 baht coin) had to tell him to stop because it can be damaged. They looked dissapointed when they not find anything.

Is this normal behavour by police, don't they like to have tourist any more. It's ok to sell viagra, kamagra, dildos and strap-ons at every street corner on sukhumit, but go for an late walk and you get harazzed by police.

 

So next trip I go to a country that don't treat me like a criminal

[bkkcanuck8]

It is not "ok" to sell sex toys (at street level or not) at all.... but they likely have had to pay regular "fines" to continue to do business.

 

They were likely disappointed you did not have any on you.  

[alfalfa19]

probably the day before payday

[Srikcir]

5 hours ago, norwaygeir said:

I don't fit the profile of a drug user, no tattos, no dredlocks, no fishermanspants, and I where sober,

You fit the profile of a foreigner.

[brewsterbudgen]

I went out for a walk arround 2300, and got stopped by two police officers driving their motorcycle on the walkway. They went through my pockets, socks, emptyed my wallet, full body check, saying "you have drugs".  I'm 36 years old,  never been checked befor (never in homecountry, or on hollyday or at customs). I don't fit the profile of a drug user, no tattos, no dredlocks, no fishermanspants, and I where sober,  They stopped me between sukhumit soi 8 and 10. 
I was scared they plant some drugs on me, so nervous. At the end one of the police men starting playing with my bank id (small electric devise same size as a 5 baht coin) had to tell him to stop because it can be damaged. They looked dissapointed when they not find anything.
Is this normal behavour by police, don't they like to have tourist any more. It's ok to sell viagra, kamagra, dildos and strap-ons at every street corner on sukhumit, but go for an late walk and you get harazzed by police.
 
So next trip I go to a country that don't treat me like a criminal

I think your profile of a drug user is a little cliched!

[manarak]

5 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

I think your profile of a drug user is a little cliched!

but it probably fits the BiB's profiles

[swissman53]

Next time you say that you want to go to the police station for inspection. They have to take you there.

[puffy]

I would never allow them to search me in the street like that, they could have easily planted something on you.

You have the right to say you want the search conducted at the Police station in the presence of a senior officer

and if you have a Lawyer here, call them and ask for them to also be present during the search. When going to the station

do not get in a car with them follow them in your car/bike or get a taxi.

[NoshowJones]

Absolutely disgraceful, I wonder if they were real police. They are usually sitting on their asses playing with the traffic lights.

[ronaldo0]

Go to most corporate offices and you will see the profile of a drug user !! 

[alex8912]

7 hours ago, swissman53 said:

Next time you say that you want to go to the police station for inspection. They have to take you there.

Can you let us know how that would be beneficial. I see it taking a lot more time and they could plant drugs on you there even easier. More cops there. Thanks 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[NoshowJones]

14 minutes ago, puffy said:

I would never allow them to search me in the street like that, they could have easily planted something on you.

You have the right to say you want the search conducted at the Police station in the presence of a senior officer

and if you have a Lawyer here, call them and ask for them to also be present during the search. When going to the station

do not get in a car with them follow them in your car/bike or get a taxi.

Of course they will pay for your taxi fare?? No, what I would do is tell them to take me to the police station, but I will follow them on foot, I'm sure if you have not committed any crime, they cannot force you into a car or to take a taxi, but wait! This is Thailand.

[Xobtsiwt]

7 hours ago, alex8912 said:

Can you let us know how that would be beneficial. I see it taking a lot more time and they could plant drugs on you there even easier. More cops there. Thanks 

 

Indeed, this is Western thinking in a Thai context. Far better to do what you see the Thai motorcyclists who are stopped at the regular roadblock checks do - bow and scrape, be cooperative and extremely polite.

Being awkward with Thai policemen will only up the ante, and you will not be the ultimate winner.

[puffy]

18 minutes ago, possum1931 said:

Of course they will pay for your taxi fare?? No, what I would do is tell them to take me to the police station, but I will follow them on foot, I'm sure if you have not committed any crime, they cannot force you into a car or to take a taxi, but wait! This is Thailand.

I was going to suggest that, but sometimes it can be a bit of a walk.

[puffy]

2 minutes ago, Xobtsiwt said:

 

You need  to make a judgment call, If it is a set up road block and they are stopping lots of people then I think that way is definitely best, If it is a Policeman just randomly stopping you while they are riding along it means they are targeting you for some money, In this case I would only be searched at the station.

[hawker9000]

Go to most corporate offices and you will see the profile of a drug user !! 

Or just browse some of the OT troll posts here on TV...

[norwaygeir]

24 minutes ago, puffy said:

I would never allow them to search me in the street like that, they could have easily planted something on you.

You have the right to say you want the search conducted at the Police station in the presence of a senior officer

and if you have a Lawyer here, call them and ask for them to also be present during the search. When going to the station

do not get in a car with them follow them in your car/bike or get a taxi.

So every tourist staying in sukhumit or near, should have a lawyer ready to outcall.  Should have done that, but it would probably just made it worst.

 

My profile of a drug user (smoker) was a little cliched, but my point is that I don't look like one (normally you can spot them by their behavour and their eyes). The bellboy at hotel told my the police where allowed to do this at black people, but not white tourist?.

 

When you walking you get hassled by taxi drivers, tuk tuk drivers, massage girls, hookers, street sellers, beggers and indian "tailors", and then police starts with the same bullshit.

And it does not help that a tourist have to pay 10 times the price for visit a national park  compared to thai.

 

Next hollyday goes to europe or usa (national parks in my country is free, but I think they should charge thais 400 baht, and while paying they should be checked for drugs) this was a joke, but if we did we get charged for racisment.

In thailand your a target for all the bullshit they can throw at you, and when tourist stops coming, they just double the prices so income is the same.

 

Happy thailand☺

[Xobtsiwt]

1 minute ago, puffy said:

You need  to make a judgment call, If it is a set up road block and they are stopping lots of people then I think that way is definitely best, If it is a Policeman just randomly stopping you while they are riding along it means they are targeting you for some money, In this case I would only be searched at the station.

Then good luck and I hope you do not wind up an unfriendly copper further. For myself, if it happened to me - and it has never happened to me in thirty years - I would settle the matter there and then; if it costs a hundred Baht or two, I would view it as the cost of living in Thailand. Escalating the situation is not a good idea.

[NoshowJones]

20 minutes ago, puffy said:

I was going to suggest that, but sometimes it can be a bit of a walk.

Yes your right, but what cop is going to walk or ride a motorbike at walking pace, especially if I was doing the walking at a very low pace.

[impulse]

Assuming you were staying in a hotel in the area, I'd suggest mentioning the incident -in strong terms- in your hotel rating.  If a couple of hundred people were to give hotels a bad rating because of what happens on the streets out front, they may be inclined to take some action, and they have some stroke with the RTP.  As individual tourists and expats, we have none.

 

Small consolation to the OP, but that area is notorious for that kind of thing (Edit:  Though it's usually reported closer to Soi 22).  Fortunately, it's only a tiny percentage of Bangkok, and it's pretty easy to stay elsewhere.  Sadly, I work in the area and have witnessed it dozens of times, though it's never happened to me personally.  Yet.

Edited February 21, 2017 by impulse

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I thought that was only happening on the other side of Asok, where it is Thing Lo...but they have been cracking down on Africans, who are on that side.  I got pulled aside as I was getting off a bus from pattaya at Ekamk....just a bag check, no pat down of pocket check.  I was 34 white American...clean cut.

 

I think in Chiang Mai the profile is as you describe...the cops hate the dirty backpackers...and the funny hair, etc., but at the airports and the big cities they know better.

[smotherb]

1 hour ago, swissman53 said:

Next time you say that you want to go to the police station for inspection. They have to take you there.

Sure, waste another two hours of your time. If you have nothing and have not used anything you should normally be safe. However, if the police are intent on planting drugs on you they can do it on the street or in the station; well, you're f****d. One good thing, if they do have to plant something on you, you should be able to buy yourself out

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I would be leery of a piss test after returning from the us....I doubt the fake white they sell in bkk would make you test positive.

[abab]

They just needed bucks, next time give 100 thb to these beggar dogs and go on your way !

 

 

[Leicamera]

Yes, shakedown area, previously sitting in front of Holly's coffee, stopping anybody who looks like;

A-) are not carrying passport

B-) seeing you throw something on the ground from 2 blocks away, and walking you down there until they find ANYTHING on the ground

C-) you look intoxicated

D-) The Missus, needs a new iphone

 

It has moved down 2 blocks with 6+ chairs and several tables.

 

If I see cops in front of that small park between Son 8 & 10, I usually will cross the overpass.......

 

[MAMMartin]

- is that Random Police or Police doing random checks?

- you do fit the profile.  foreigner on his own walking around the streets where they sell illegal merchandise

- " Is this normal behavour by police" - yes but not by The Random Police

- " So next trip I go to a country that don't treat me like a criminal" - excellent idea, but you won't be able to get your viagra, dildos etc on every corner!

[brewsterbudgen]

Unfortunately this has been going on for years around Sukhumvit sois 4-26.  There was a spate of such stops a few years ago and much negative publicity which did result in some action being taken to reduce it happening.  It does seem to happen less often nowadays and is possibly due to "rogue cops" rather than official action.

 

The good news is that I have yet to hear of anyone having drugs planted on them, or of cash being extorted.  Usually, if nothing incriminating is found, the person is politely thanked and allowed to continue. 

 

I used to live on soi 22 and the neighbourhood drug dealer was well known!  He was mid-20s, British and could be seen plying his trade around the Queens Park Plaza bars on most nights.  He's gone now.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

In PAI 5000 will get you an exemption from piss test.

Edited February 21, 2017 by KhonKaenKowboy

[Thaidream]

It I am not mistaken a search on the street can only take place if there is an officer of sub lieutenant and above in attendance.  Knowing this I would ask to speak to the Officer in charge. Of course, there wouldn't be one there. then I probably would ask to be taken to the station and if they still continued I would ask to see the station chief.  I would never let them place their hands in any of my pockets or go through my personal items. I have never done drugs but I do not trust situations like this. It is entirely a shakedown for money. It is intimidating for anyone especially those new to Thailand. Never raise your voice, smile a lot but do not let them put their hands in your pocket. Another option, would  be to insist they accompanied yu to your hotel, where the staff could witness the situation.

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I thin avoiding Sukhumvit altogether is a good move.  The boiler room con artists have ruined the bar scene.  NEP is simply an expensive ladyboy circus.  I wouldn't go to KSR to throw up, but still many, many fun parts of BKK.