Pattaya nightclub drug crackdown intensifies

PATTAYA, Thailand – The last six months have witnessed a vast policy of nighttime repression that has involved thousands of police officers and dozens of entertainment venues across the country. The ongoing operation is part of the “5-Free” policy aimed at ensuring that nightlife venues are child-free, drug-free, weapon-free, prostitution-free and safe. The categories were officially adopted as government policy last September.

The policy was first announced by Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul, whose deputies even oversaw some police raids. These include the closure of a pub in Pattaya after more than 200 patrons passed purple urine, indicating use of drugs such as ketamine and methamphetamines. Although the campaign was national, Pattaya appears to have been the hardest hit, with more than 20 known raids on licensed premises. In most cases, authorities were informed by “concerned citizens,” a group that likely included enemies of business as well as worthy opponents of moral turpitude.

What is new about the 2024 crackdown is the wide variety of police and civilian agencies on the scene. These include local, provincial and immigration police, as well as Bangkok-based units such as anti-trafficking police and the Central Bureau of Investigation. They were accompanied by senior officers from the civil Ministry of Employment and the Ministry of Provincial Administration. The latter is responsible for licensing all clubs in a particular district. This inter-agency cooperation, unprecedented in its evolving scale, has been encouraged by Cabinet members who want to see a “cleaner” picture for Pattaya in particular.

Most of the approximately 1,500 people arrested in the Pattaya raids were Thais, but around 300 foreigners, including Westerners, had recently used drugs. A handful were arrested for working without a license, mostly bar staff, but these were usually from neighboring countries (with the exception of a lone British DJ). Other offenses related to the club included being open outside of permitted hours, guns in the parking lot, online gambling, failure to obtain a music license, and more. In one case, accompanying unsavory characters.

The fate of Westerners arrested following these raids depends on the circumstances and the discretion of the police. Typically, those who test positive for banned substances are taken to the police station and, after signing statements and proving their identity, are released pending payment of a fine. Their details are recorded by immigration to prevent any leaks before they pay. They are likely to be banned from re-entering Thailand for a period of one to 99 years, depending on the severity of their case. Those involved in running licensed premises, drug trafficking, pedophilia or other crimes will be tried in court at a later date and will be banned from leaving Thailand pending sentencing. This procedure can take months.

There is nothing new about Pattaya’s nighttime raids on pubs and clubs. They began in the 1960s, after the introduction of the Places of Entertainment Act, which banned prostitution in licensed premises. However, the 2024 “5-Free” policy is a much broader initiative across Thailand and involves a new level of cooperation between government agencies not seen before. As Christmas approaches, a Happy New Year certainly won’t require queuing to collect a urine sample.