Soi Sunee Bars Raided By Cops During Crackdown

 

Pattaya police arrested 30 people during a sweep of 20 gay bars in the Soi Sunee area. The arrests were mostly for drug offenses. Police have announced a month-long crackdown of criminal and drug activity in Pattaya because of recent crimes against Russian tourists.   PATTAYA – January 9, 2013 [PDN]; at 1 a.m., in front of Pattaya police station, a ceremony was held to announce a 30-day police crackdown on crime and drug use. The chairman of the ceremony was Pol. Maj. Gen. Katcha Thartsart, Commander, Chonburi province.Also in attendance were Pol. Col. Suwan Cheawnawinthawat, Superintendent, Pattaya police station, and more than 60 police and volunteer police officers.
Earlier, Pol. Maj. Gen. Katcha Thartsart announced the crackdown to the officers. Police forces were then mobilized to begin the crackdown. They started by setting up a blockade and raiding the entertainment centers on Soi Sunee in south Pattaya.
Police conducted a sweep of more than 20 establishments, most of them bars and Go-Go bars that cater to gay customers, and employ young Thai boys. The police inspected for any children and teenagers under age 18 who were engaged in illegal activity by working in the bars and selling sexual services to foreign tourists.

Police also inspected for any illegal weapons like guns, as well as drugs. Urine tests were given to find evidence of drug use. A total of 30 male and female suspects were arrested by police for using and/or possessing drugs. Police sent all of the suspects to the investigation officer to prosecute further according to the law.
Pol. Maj. Gen. Katcha Thartsart said that the mobilizing of forces from law enforcement organizations to subdue drugs and crime in area of Pattaya was according to the recent policy of Pol. Gen. Adul Saengsingkaew, the Director-General.
He had called a meeting of the police commanders and had ordered them to rush every unit to take care of security for the tourists in Pattaya. He told the Pattaya commanders that he wants the problem of drugs and crime in area of Pattaya to be decreased within one month.
Further, the top police boss wanted every police officer and every related officer to cooperate to operate continuously on the crackdown against crime, in order to get the complete result desired and to build the good image of security to foreign tourists that came to travel in Thailand, especially in Pattaya.