Senior cops moved after Bangkok pub raid

Senior cops moved after Bangkok pub raid

Some of the 400 customers held after raids early Saturday on three Huai Khwang pubs wait to undergo urine tests, in which 110 tested positive for drug use. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)
Some of the 400 customers held after raids early Saturday on three Huai Khwang pubs wait to undergo urine tests, in which 110 tested positive for drug use. (Photo by Patipat Janthong)

Four senior officers attached to the Phasi Charoen police station have been moved to inactive posts following a raid on a pub in their area early Saturday in which some customers tested positive for drug use.

The move came after a team of soldiers and officials, led by Wisit Wisitsora-at, director-general of the Department of Juvenile Observation and Protection, stormed the Red Seed pub on Phutthamonthon Sai 1 in Phasi Charoen district early Saturday.

About 500 customers were found drinking at the pub. Officers took them for urine tests and three — two men and one woman — tested positive for drug use. 

Pol Maj Gen Jeeraphat Phumjit, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau’s division 9, ordered the transfers of the officers to Division 9 for 30 days pending an investigation.

Transferred were Pol Col Warawat Thammasarot, the station chief; Pol Lt Col Prasarn Kaewmahasuriwong, deputy station chief responsible for crime suppression; Pol Lt Col Narong Apirak-anothai, crime suppression chief; and Pol Lt Rampoei Khumsap, deputy crime suppression chief.

In a separate operation, 110 of nearly 400 patrons rounded up in a predawn raid on three pubs in Huai Khwang district tested positive for drugs, police said.

A combined team of police and soldiers raided the three venues — Wake-up, Kradae and Naza — and found 398 customers in all. Urine tests showed 110 customers, including 67 men and 43 women, had drugs in their systems. 

They were handed over to the Suthisan police station and officers took them to Thanyarak Hospital to have the test results double-checked, said Pol Lt Col Bunlue Padungthin, deputy superintendent of the Division 1 of the Crime Supression Bureau.

Many packs of crystal methamphetamine, ketamine and sleeping pills  were found discarded on the floors of the pubs, said Pol Lt Col Bunlue.

The raid followed complaints that the three nightspots had stayed open beyond the operating hours, he said.

Police have pressed charges of operating without permission against operators of the three pubs, while those testing positive for drugs have charged with drug use, said Pol Lt Col Bunlue.

Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT (13)