Random police checking for drugs

[Steiner]

Some nonsense posts here,  the logistics of going to the station are plain stupid. 

You can request an high ranking copper to come to the search site,  that often pisses them off so much they walk away. 

Wouldn't it just be simpler to record the whole thing in your phone,  even better if someone is passing and ask them to record it. 

[norwaygeir]

1 hour ago, MAMMartin said:

- 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!

Thank you for trolling! My english is not perfect, but I think most persons her understand what I^m writing.

[JerryinTH]

Those situations are a gamble. 

Don't try to escalate it, pay a 'fine' and be on your way. 

It's Thailand and a typical shakedown that happens countless times every day and 1 out of the thousands of same shakedowns get reported on the forums once a while. 

Welcome to the land of smiles :) 

[norwaygeir]

2 minutes ago, JerryinTH said:

Those situations are a gamble. 

Don't try to escalate it, pay a 'fine' and be on your way. 

It's Thailand and a typical shakedown that happens countless times every day and 1 out of the thousands of same shakedowns get reported on the forums once a while. 

Welcome to the land of smiles :) 

So when you don't have drugs or ever done drugs, you should give them tea money for their good deeds stopping you.

[williamgeorgeallen]

6 hours 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.

i would be prepared to pay not to go to a police station in thailand. i have been there before. it was expensive.

[fruitman]

Let me guess...

 

You walked in Thong Lor neighbourhood and had a backpack or moneybelt, right?

[lvr181]

"Random police checking for drugs"    I think that most of the police are random!

 

Perhaps the headline should read "Police randomly checking for drugs or Police checking randomly for drugs"?  Short and succinct.

[fruitman]

13 minutes ago, lvr181 said:

"Random police checking for drugs"    I think that most of the police are random!

 

Perhaps the headline should read "Police randomly checking for drugs or Police checking randomly for drugs"?  Short and succinct.

How many languages do you speak smarty? 

[lvr181]

9 minutes ago, fruitman said:

How many languages do you speak smarty? 

Four.

 

Please try and have a nice day 

[Skeptic7]

Have been checked twice in 20 years. First time at a random road block with a buddy and 3 girls. We were in a taxi. A cursory check of the girls' handbags and our pockets and wallets. This was about 8 years ago .

 

The second time was about 4 years ago getting off the bus at Ekamai from Pattaya with my GF. This was a much more thorough check than the previous time. They had me turn my pockets out, checked my passport and then wanted to rummage through my bags. We fully cooperated, but had them show us their hands were empty and roll up their sleeves before touching my luggage...for fear of them planting something nefarious then demanding money. 

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Here's some useful background info and guidelines for dealing with attempted police searches.

 

These materials came out of the Thong Lor harassment episodes a while back. I'm sure the contact info officers listed are probably no longer at Thong Lor, but the rules should still be valid.

 

 

 

[gdgbb]

6 hours ago, Leicamera said:

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.......

 

Those are not police, they are BMA officers who do not have any powers to stop and search you.  They'll stop you if they see you littering though, as well they should.

[abab]

7 hours ago, Steiner said:

Some nonsense posts here,  the logistics of going to the station are plain stupid. 

You can request an high ranking copper to come to the search site,  that often pisses them off so much they walk away. 

Wouldn't it just be simpler to record the whole thing in your phone,  even better if someone is passing and ask them to record it. 

 

 

Yes, exactly, and also NEVER let anyone put his dirty dogs hands in your bags or pocket, just empty all on the ground and record !

 

 

 

[buick]

just let them do the search and you are fine if you don't have anything on you.  do not escalate the situation - you start getting into 'lose face' with that and we all know that can be a difficult road.  if they find drugs on you, call a friend immediately and pay the requested amount.  usually 50,000thb.  the longer you draw it out, the more it will cost you.  i know people who've been to the thonglor station, that is how they dealt with it.  they've been out in 30 minutes to an hour.

 

i got searched 3 days in a row last year.  twice on the small soi leading to the mandarin oriental (on moto taxi from nearby BTS).  my friend and his wife were having their 50th and 45th bdays there with a group of 25 friends.  the third time was late saturday night (the last night of the party event) at a checkpoint at asoke/rama IV (i was in a taxi solo). 

 

i've lost count of many times i've been searched on soi 22 and sukhumvit btwn emporium and asoke (this is over a period of 10 years).

 

they've never cared about visa/overstay, always looking for drugs.  i'm a 50 year old, balding, gray haired foreigner.  i must look like an ATM.

 

 

[abab]

46 minutes ago, buick said:

just let them do the search and you are fine if you don't have anything on you.  do not escalate the situation - you start getting into 'lose face' with that and we all know that can be a difficult road.  if they find drugs on you, call a friend immediately and pay the requested amount.  usually 50,000thb.  the longer you draw it out, the more it will cost you.  i know people who've been to the thonglor station, that is how they dealt with it.  they've been out in 30 minutes to an hour.

 

i got searched 3 days in a row last year.  twice on the small soi leading to the mandarin oriental (on moto taxi from nearby BTS).  my friend and his wife were having their 50th and 45th bdays there with a group of 25 friends.  the third time was late saturday night (the last night of the party event) at a checkpoint at asoke/rama IV (i was in a taxi solo). 

 

i've lost count of many times i've been searched on soi 22 and sukhumvit btwn emporium and asoke (this is over a period of 10 years).

 

they've never cared about visa/overstay, always looking for drugs.  i'm a 50 year old, balding, gray haired foreigner.  i must look like an ATM.

 

 

 

 

You have been searched so many times and you still haven't started about your look or attitude ?

 

Yes, show them your private parts if you have no face, but it will never happen to me and they will bend before me, 100% sure.

 

 

 

[Shaksey]

Couple of weeks ago I was stopped and searched twice in 5 minutes in that area of Sukhumvit by two different pairs of cops on bikes. Same procedure both times, emptied pockets, got patted down, basic questions. No issues, thanked and went on my way.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

41 minutes ago, Shaksey said:

Couple of weeks ago I was stopped and searched twice in 5 minutes in that area of Sukhumvit by two different pairs of cops on bikes. Same procedure both times, emptied pockets, got patted down, basic questions. No issues, thanked and went on my way.

Not sure WHAT area of Sukhumvit you're referring to, since there were several different areas mentioned above.

 

But when you say bikes, do you mean motorcycles or bicycles?  I can't recall ever seeing Thai police on bicycle patrols along Sukhumvit. Motorcycles, yes, rarely to be seen.

 

[Shaksey]

1 minute ago, TallGuyJohninBKK said:

Not sure WHAT area of Sukhumvit you're referring to, since there were several different areas mentioned above.

 

But when you say bikes, do you mean motorcycles or bicycles?  I can't recall ever seeing Thai police on bicycle patrols along Sukhumvit. Motorcycles, yes, rarely to be seen.

 

Near Asoke. They were on Police motorcycles.

[buick]

On 2/21/2017 at 7:09 AM, abab said:

You have been searched so many times and you still haven't started about your look or attitude ?

 

there is not alot i can change, but i understand why you would think an 'adjustment' would help.  i don't have tattoos, i wear long pants and a t-shirt (not a singlet).  i'm clean shaven.  my head isn't shaved (like skindhead type), bald on the top, gray hair shaved somewhat tight on the sides. no beer belly.  no gold chains/jewelry.  i'm just a farang strolling along.  i think it comes down to time of night (midnight to 2am most times).  if you aren't carrying anything on you, you don't have anything to worry about.  i think the OP had an overreaction.  if you want to challenge the police, go for it.  but i don't feel the search is all that bad.

 

the mandarin oriental stops were a different matter as everyone approaching the hotel was stopped and searched.  and it was during the day.  it didn't last all day as others in the party group didn't see any police as they came and went from the hotel.  it was strange.  maybe a VIP was planning to use the soi both times i went through the soi ?  really can't understand it.

 

8 hours ago, Shaksey said:

Near Asoke. They were on Police motorcycles.

 

those are the guys !!  many times it is two officers riding on the same bike.  i saw them stop a thai guy once on sukhumvit soi 20.   this was during the day, but they let him go.  i had walked by them and wondered if they'd stop me as i heard their bike approaching from the rear but they kept on driving.

 

Edited February 23, 2017 by buick

[paulinbkk111]

All around Thonglor as well. Getting more aggressive in their approach too.

[JerryinTH]

2 hours ago, paulinbkk111 said:

All around Thonglor as well. Getting more aggressive in their approach too.

 

That's one thing I never understood. 

Years ago all the dealers used to deliver to Thonglor and all the famous and trendy clubs used to be full of drugs..  

Yet the expats that reside in that area are mostly well off or better off than others... are they just easier to shake down or what's it that I am missing here? 

A tourist will hardly venture out to thonglor and dance the night away on some coke or some xtc.. 

A well off expat will most likely know what to do when confronted by police..  given that he uses party drugs and is somewhat streetsmart. 

Just seems pointless to do that in Thonglor when they are literally peeing in the wind. I wouldn't want to live there just because of the harassment from the police. 

Not doing any party drugs anymore, those days are long gone for me, but I know that little has changed in the area and the customers are mostly locals and expats. All are in the 'better off' than most category. 

If I would get my urine tested by the police it would turn up positive for heroin or codeine since I am on subscription painkillers. I always carry my subscription in my wallet but I think I'll still have a hard time explaining to the cops that this is from my meds and I am not doing any drugs. 

This has killed the entire Thonglor area for me.. including the restaurants like Iron Chef and others. I rather spend my money in another area where I won't get stopped for no reason. 

 

[buick]

i should note that i have not been asked/threatened with a piss test nor have the officers suggested i pay a fee to avoid further consequences, etc..  it is always a relatively simple search with some questions.  i think the police are looking for drugs and hoping they find some so they can collect the fine.  they aren't trying to screw over the innocent people (hard as that is to believe !!!).

 

you never know what can happen but if you live in the area where the searches take place, it is wise to discuss with friends and make sure everyone keeps cash in their apartment.  that way a phone call to friends can alleviate a bad situation very quickly.

 

i'm in hong kong right now and last night i discussed the topic with some of my friends who live here (HK).  back in 2000 or so, back in the 'young days', they partied in bkk often (after the baht went from 25 to 50 to USD, a boon for the HKD as well).  one guy got busted for drugs two days before songkran.  he didn't even know he could pay a fine and be set free.  it is important to note, if you are caught, the police may not make an offer for you to pay a fee for release.  you may have to suggest a payment, not an amount, but the act of a payment.  this poor guy didn't know and spent a week in the thonglor police lockup.  with the april heat, no air con, etc...  he was the king of the place as his buddies kept bringing food in for him and all the others locked up.  but totally screwed as he couldn't see a judge due to the long holiday.  after an attorney was contacted, he found out he could have paid the fee if the arrest paperwork hadn't been prepared.  but that happens pretty quick so you need to get the money together ASAP.  he ended up paying 100,000thb but had to fly from HK to BKK several times for court cases etc...  he wanted to be able to return to thailand so, even though he escaped via land border to malaysia after he was released (w/o any payment), he kept coming back to resolve the issue. 

 

[KhonKaenKowboy]

I have heard of amounts as high as 300-400K for simple weed possession.  But, I have also heard of a 5000 THB fine and no black list from a judge.  Recently, a farang wound up dying at the police station, after a weed sting, and demands for 300,000.  That was KSR.

[Familyonthemove]

Now that the Army is moving in to their turf, they need to find new revenue streams.

 

There was some well reported issues around Asoke a while ago, and eventually the Police Head had to issue guidelines to his force on how to not shakedown tourists. 

 

Looks like it's spread to another area of Sukhumvit?

 

The more international publicity you can generate about what must be a very stressful experience for visitors to Bangkok, the more chance of limiting the activity.

 

 

[abab]

3 hours ago, KhonKaenKowboy said:

I have heard of amounts as high as 300-400K for simple weed possession.  But, I have also heard of a 5000 THB fine and no black list from a judge.  Recently, a farang wound up dying at the police station, after a weed sting, and demands for 300,000.  That was KSR.

 

300k seems impossible and nobody would pay this Who told you this kind of ridiculous story ? A judge is 2000, no more.