More than 400 people tested positive for drugs during a police raid on a crowded nightclub in Suphan Buri, following complaints of illegal activity.
The operation took place at around 1.30am yesterday, September 24, when the Department of Provincial Administration’s (DOPA) special operations team, alongside local officials, stormed 24 Bar in Sanam Chai subdistrict, Mueang district.
Inside, more than 1,000 patrons were still partying to loud music. As officers sealed all exits, panicked clubbers attempted to flee but found themselves trapped.
Officers conducted checks and discovered at least 50 underage individuals on the premises, including one just 15 years old. Of these, 35 tested positive for drug use. A total of 1,042 people were tested, with 415 returning positive results: 261 men and 154 women. Everyone who failed the drug test will face legal action or be sent for rehabilitation, as required by law.
Investigators also found small plastic sachets containing illegal substances and several knives discarded on the floor, indicating a hasty attempt to dispose of evidence as the raid unfolded.
The venue was also caught selling alcohol after the legal closing time, one of several violations that triggered the crackdown. Officers said the raid was launched following public complaints that some entertainment venues in the area were flouting the law, allowing minors entry, selling alcohol past legal hours, and turning a blind eye to drug activity.
The pub’s operator now faces a long list of charges, including allowing underage patrons inside, selling alcohol to minors, staying open past legal hours, and permitting drug use: all breaches of directives issued under the former National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO).
The DOPA special operations team has recommended that the venue be shut down for five years under NCPO Order 22/2558 (2015). Suphan Buri Governor Piriya Chanthadilok confirmed yesterday that preparations are underway to issue a closure order, reported Bangkok Post.
Piriya said that although previous inspections hadn’t uncovered any wrongdoing, the presence of a high-profile DJ that night drew an unusually large crowd, prompting coordination with DOPA to mount a large-scale operation requiring considerable manpower and planning.
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