Bangkok:Five senior police officers have been dismissed following a raid by the Interior Ministry on an illegal pub on Khao San Road, which was found operating until dawn.
According to Thai News Agency, the Metropolitan Police Commissioner ordered the transfer of these officers to the Operations Center of Metropolitan Police Division 1. This decision followed a raid by the Department of Provincial Administration on an entertainment venue located near Chana Songkhram Police Station. The raid was conducted after subordinates had reported no irregularities.
The operation, named "Operation Singha Phadet Suek" (Decisive Battle), took place at 330 AM, led by General Peer Suwannachawi. The "OK bar" in the Phra Nakhon district was discovered to be operating without a license, selling alcohol beyond permitted hours, allowing minors entry, and showing signs of drug use. Investigators also found evidence of the sale of laughing balloons and firearms, raising concerns about a potential repeat of a previous fatal shooting incident outside the pub.
The investigation revealed that the establishment had ignored an order from the Phra Nakhon District Office to cease operations on August 4th. Despite this, it continued to operate until the raid, during which phone records showed payments of nearly 180,000 baht per month in bribes to various agencies.
The raid uncovered 34 patrons with positive drug tests and 30 minors present, with the youngest being only 15 years old. Undercover agents observed suspicious behavior, including patrons repeatedly visiting the restroom, where they later found plastic tubes and a white powder resembling drugs.
Officers entered the premises at 130 AM, and an undercover agent documented the purchase of alcoholic drinks, with the payment traced to an account linked to the establishment. The venue, a two-story building, offered live music and entertainment, with inadequate security checks at the entrance.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Siam Boonsom, Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, noted that the venue is just a few hundred meters from Chana Songkhram Police Station. This proximity led to the transfer of the five senior officers. An investigation into the officers' conduct is underway, focusing on why they failed to detect any suspicious activity during their inspection at 100 AM on October 10, 2026. Should misconduct be confirmed, criminal and disciplinary actions will be pursued. Additionally, the potential misleading of the Chana Songkhram Police Station superintendent by subordinates is also under investigation.