CHIANG MAI: Police and officials raided beer bars near a boxing stadium on Loi Kroh Road in Muang district late Wednesday night, following complaints of selling laughing gas-filled balloons to visitors and tourists.
About 100 policemen and consumer protection officials seized hundreds of gas cylinders and gas-filled balloons at five beer bars in the heart of this northern province. Many foreign visitors were present at the venues during the raid.
Pol Lt Col Sathitchai Nitayawan, deputy investigative chief at the Muang Chiang Mai police station, said police had yet to determine the type of gas was in the seized cylinders and balloons before considering any charges.
Earlier police had received complaints that nitrous oxide, normally used in whipped cream chargers and airbags, was being sold in balloons to customers at these bars, Pol Lt Col Sathitchai said. It was allegedly priced at 50 baht per small balloon and 100 baht in a big balloon.
Manorom Sinthop-achakul, a pharmacist at Chiang Mai Provincial Public Health Office, said that nitrous oxide could intoxicate inhalers and excessive and frequent abuse could harm the respiratory system, liver and kidney, potentially leading to fatal consequences.