In what appears to be a rapidly increasing policy of harassing western visitors and residents in Bangkok, such individuals are now regularly being stopped by Bangkok police, where they are interrogated, searched, and made to contribute urine samples. This policy has become infamous in the tourist areas controlled by the Thong Lor and Lupini district police. Westerners are routinely stopped at random on the street, in taxicabs, and when traveling on motorcycle taxis. The stops are held day and night. When stopped, the individual is asked for identification, to empty the contents of pockets and purses for inspection, and a urine sample may be demanded as well, to be given and analyzed on the spot. Those not having proper identification or papers may be taken to a nearby police station, where they are held temporarily until the issue is either resolved or remanded to the Thai court system.
How common is this situation? Over the past few months, it has happened to numerous westerners living in Thailand, and has become a popular, if unwelcome topic of conversation. At least one individual with whom we here at WoWasis spoke shared the experience of being shaken down for a 20,000 baht “fine” to avoid arrest. In the November 29, 2014 issue of the Bangkok Post, visitor Reese Walker described how she and her fiancé were stopped twice by police in two days, interrogated, searched, and urine-sampled. Their crime? Being in a taxi cab in the first case, and walking at the popular Asok intersection in the second. “This is our first and last visit to Thailand,” she says in her letter to the editor. “The harassment of tourists is unacceptable… [we] won’t be recommending other people to visit Thailand based on two frightening incidents of what we believe to be racial profiling.”
Recommendations if you are arrested:
As a westerner, whether a tourist or an individual living in Bangkok, you may very well be stopped at random and subject to immediate arrest by Bangkok police. If you are stopped and harassed by Bangkok Police, especially common in the Thong Lor and Lumpini police district areas popular with tourists, here are some recommendations:
1) If you are taken to a police facility, do not sign anything. You will be verbally insulted and browbeaten (there is no anecdotal data that suggests you will be physically harmed). But refuse to sign. If you do sign, even an acknowledgement that you have been detained can be interpreted by Thai courts as an admission that you resisted arrest.
2) Demand that the police contact your embassy on your behalf. Again, sign nothing.
3) At least one person was able to get the police to release him by saying he needed to go to the hospital “to get my medicine.” Your dying while in police custody is a public relations snafu that the police would prefer to avoid.
4) Particularly on a weekend, you may be forced to spend a night in a Bangkok jail. Hang in there, sign nothing, and sit tight until your embassy representative can assist you.
Tourism in Thailand is estimated to be down in 2014 by a factor of 20% from the year before. Harassment of western visitors is apparently a pastime determined to increase the number of international visitors that see Thailand, once considered a country friendly to visitors, as a country pushed further and further down the destination bucket list.
A family member in Phuket right now as we speak just got out on 10,000 baht bail after being in a holding cell for a few days and put in the prison for another few days… Planted drugs on him and now bribed in order to get a negative result on an already negative result…. 100,000 baht will clear him at hearing and additional 50,000 baht for him to be able to leave hearing a free man with no police escort to Bangkok ….. F U thailand
[…] doesn’t take much searching to come across more than you could read in a day, including this travel warning about shakedowns in Bangkok, this report on Facebook posts talking about Bangkok tourist shakedowns, and this report on […]
[…] Travel warning Thailand: Bangkok police accelerate random visitor urine tests, searches, interrogati… […]
So It’s ok to shake downs,listen we as visitors to a country that has rules,regulations, bad consequences for breaking the law,have to be aware It’s the hypocrisy of allowing some to sell drugs, girls, reap the profits from this yet still want you to pay for your mistakes… It’s a rigged game don’t you think, They like you when you are giving, don’t when not. I used to love the country, But to be honest It’s a little intimidating, pretty aggressive now.I stay in Cambodia now,love It,lots more are coming here from Thailand, Check It out…! Peace out,
Lived here in Bangkok for four years and never been shaken down for anything. Regularly walk around the Asoke and sukhumvit areas and been drunk there a couple of times but the only time I’ve been approached is by the Mormons wanting to invite me to their church. Yaba is a huge problem especially amongst working girls unfortunately, quite a lot is also consumed by customers. I’m aware of a bar that changed hands very quickly after the coup where the previous (white) owner was allegedly generating significant revenue from selling drugs to customers and staff and saw the writing on the wall.
I suspect this is a fairly blunt approach to a real problem.
My wife and I are in Thailand at this very time and we have been stopped twice in the one day today. Suffice to say we are late middle aged English grand parents who do not smoke, we do have an occasional beer or two but no vices as I would term it. The first stop was for anti terrorism reasons and the second was because we were reported by someone as smoking drugs.
I spoke to the owner of our hotel to seek her opinion on the real reasons and her response was that yes there is an issue with Thai police in Bangkok and that there is a very big push to shakedown tourists and extortion is getting to be a big problem even for locals. We are now looking to leave the Thailand capital and we will not spend any more time here than necessary which is a shame but we can’t stay where corruption is rife.
Other places we have enjoyed corruption free are India, Indonesia, Peru, Malaysia, and Singapore.
[…] surprisingly, were male tourists (but not all). There’s a very interesting article about it here, and in the comments part there are wonderfully astute sentiments such as “Anyone who […]
Good post. Yes I witnessed this several times with my own eyes. They let me walk on by though. Strange… I wonder if they are harassing the Africans openly selling drugs on lower Suk? BKK is already a dump but now this? No thanks, I got out of there.
And Sean… We all know drugs are illegal in Thailand. Do you think it’s reasonable for a non suspicious person minding his own business walking down the street to be stopped, searched, piss tested and maybe worse? Farang or Thai, it’s ridiculous.
I’m happily living in beautiful Vietnam now. In three months I might have seen a total of 5 police officers. They were unarmed sitting on their motorbikes chatting. Didn’t even look my way!
Anyone who believes that Westerners are not specifically targeted by the BKK police is delusional.
I agree that the military campaign to reduce corruption has led the cops to find new people to shake down. If the current trend is halted, it will probably be because the military has stepped in and told the cops to back off.
Meanwhile I wonder how Japanese tourists are faring in BKK. If the past is any guide, the cops will leave all of them strictly alone. They are the privileged visitors to BKK, and if they complain about being abused by the cops, the Japanese government will make it clear to the Thai government that the misbehavior will stop at once.
Thailand responds promptly to commands from China and Japan; other nations can complain all they want, to little effect. Two examples: China keeps Falung Dafa out of Thailand, and Japan makes sure Thai workers do not dictate to the big Japanese companies. Meanwhile the USA has been trying for years to get the Thais to clean up Customs; I don’t know how that campaign has fared recently, but I can guess.
As much as I enjoyed living in Thailand, I’m not going back. It’s no longer the nation, and BKK is not the city, that I recall fondly.
I have heard that the urine test is NOT for metabolites of THC, I heard of someone who would definitely have failed that test, who passed the street urine test. They are probably looking for signs of meth or yaba use.
Just pretend that you do not understand their monkey language and ignore them !
I was visiting thailand every year 2 times 3 month since 2009 and yes, because of the crazy amount of police i will probably spend my next holiday in Cambodia.
Thailand had its flair because you could feel free and you had some kind of Far West feeling. Now its gone. Another police state just like back home…
About 7 years ago, I lived in the Thong Lor area. I’m an African-American male by the way and I was stopped on a daily basis in Thong Lor. Sometimes twice in one day, once with my Mom and another time with my Dad, almost everytime with my Thai girlfriend at the time. I’ve been searched, harassed, and embarrassed on numerous times in this area.
At one point I voluntarily went the police station to speak with the “captain” of the Thong Lor Police Station. After an hour of waiting we were able to meet and he informed me that “It is our duty, to stop people same color like you!” He must have read my body language then proceeded to correct himself by saying, “You have to understand that people from West Africa bring drugs into our community and we are trying to stop the drugs.”
After explaining that I am American and have legitimate employment here he suggested that I just tell the police when they stop me that I’m American and that should be enough. (Believe it or not that actually works.)
Coincidentally, the harassment stopped immediately after that day(at least in Thong Lor…Ive been stopped other places). Not sure if was because of my visit or because I just had better luck.
Also, after learning a little bit of Thai and displaying a lot more confidence when dealing with Thai police I’ve had police stop in their tracks and apologize before they even attempt to harass me.
i will stay in friendly Cambodia from now on thx. Thailand, goodbye!
Since the army took power the police have not been able to steal money from the public in their usual fashion. Expect more of this type of behavior from them. New schemes to fleece the innocent . They are underpaid yes, but in essence no better then the criminals they pretend to protect us from.
I was pulled over drumk on a scooter twice within 5 mins late oone night and the cops let me go both times.
Wait….. no that was in Taiwan – I keep getting those 2 mixed up.
Here in Thailand we are under Martial Law. So one would expect to be stopped by the Military. Common sense should tell you to avoid Sukhumvit Road, from Asoke, to Eckami
.
I have been living in Thailand for 16 years and a month ago while walking with my little brother on sukhumvit on Thonglor street we got stopped by 3 police who first asked for our passports which we had then my little brother got searched and when done they told him to leave and he refused as he wanted to be with me as he has never been to Thailand before and didn’t want to leave me alone. The police got angry and shouted over and over again for him to leave which he luckily didn’t. Then the police searched me and one police put his hand in my pocket and then took his hand out from my pocket holding a small paper envelope and shouted at me that this is cocaine and that I’m big trouble and that I will go to jail for a long time and that I’m a very bad person. I told them that it was not mine and that it was the police who put it there. The police got furious and was shouting over and over how I’m going to jail and how bad I am then they said I had to do a urine test and pulled me from the street into a small street where I gave the urine test. After giving the urine test they wanted me to move a few meters away from them while they did the urine test which I refused and demanded to see while they did the test so they couldn’t do anything with the test. The police got very angry and during the entire time they all are shouting how bad I am and that I’m going to jail. The test later showed negative and then they wanted me to go to the police station with them for having cocaine on me which the police put in my pocket. I gladly told them let’s go to the police station and then I will get my lawyer and newspapers involved and I will give the statement that the police put the cocaine in my pocket. They police got even more angry and after a while of verbal abuse they told me and my little brother to go far away as possible from the police which did. I couldn’t believe what just happened. A week later I got stopped again and got searched and had to do a urine test and then they let me go. Will from now on think twice where I walk.
I was thinking of having a look at Thailand as a retirement destination. Might look elsewhere. Any where else. Such corruption isn’t the type of thing I want in my local area in my retirement.
People who write this is within Thai law and everyone else gets treated the same way, are dilusional. I was harassed on my way to a chiropractor, but fortunately only had enough $$ for the doctor. I have been all over Africa and the Middle East, incl Iran, and it does NOT happen there. It does noet happen in Vietnam and it does not happen in Myanmar, or Taiwan, or anywhere else in the East. They are corrupt and taking money from foreigners, plain and simple, they are professional thieves.
The ‘fact’ that they do this to locals too, is NO justification, and just shows how you have been indoctrinated by the system – you would be very content in an Orwellian world. I suppose what happened on Ko Tao can also be explained away as normal run-of-the-mill police work… Stop justifying all the scamming, cheating (faithful Thai partners???) and ‘police work’. Please, grow up and think for yourself, this IS Amasing Thailand.
Foreigners are seen as cash cows, and that will not change. 5 Years is enough. I’m outta here end of my contract.
Dale T. says:
December 1, 2014 at 6:51 am
“We are under martial law, folks. Do you even have an inkling of how nasty it could be compared to how soft it is?”
so, because there’s martial law, policemen have the right to harass and extort foreigners? hey, you seem smart, Dale. keep doing whatever you’re doing. finishing your Ph D or what not
Is there actually a law that allows police to randomly ask people to pee in cups without any due cause?
In response to the guy asking “what if you just came from a country where smoking weed is legal, then got piss tested in Thailand” = YOU’RE BUSTED! They don’t care about your backstory or history. They simply know that you tested positive for drugs and as far as they are concerned, you are now a criminal. Even if you smoked weed legally in Colorado 1 week prior, you are now in Thailand, and from their perspective you have been proved to be a “drug user.” Not fair, nor just, or even scientifically accurate. But your rights are basically ZERO.
Nowhere in the world do foreign visitors have equal or more rights than the citizens of that country (prime example being the right to criticize the government). In Thailand, the average foreigner can exercise a ton more rights and has orders of magnitude more freedom than the average Thai. To bitch and moan about this perceived infringement of your near absolute freedom to engage in activity that is criminal in your home country, is asinine and petty. It reeks of the bitter Brits and Aussies who surveil Sukhumvit seated snugly upon a stool. We are under martial law, folks. Do you even have an inkling of how nasty it could be compared to how soft it is? Begone, ale house activists.
Thanks for posting this on your blog. It is essential to spread the word about this racist, corrupt, fascist behavior to shame the decisions makers.
There seems to have been a concerted effort to destabilise the tourism industry in this country. Perpetrators unknown, and possible reasons also unknown.
Neither the Army in Government, the Police or local tour operators want to see any downturn in tourism, given its’ vital contribution to the national economy.
Colorful descriptions of ‘shakedowns’ must be considered in context.
As resident business owners, we have experienced nothing but respect and assistance from both, as participants and providers in and to the local economy.
Travel agents and governments would have prospective tourists believe that the streets are running with blood. What crap.
Our business is almost fully booked for the high season, and current guests are amazed and grateful for such a peaceful holiday experience.
I leave it to your readers to participate in a little independent research on their travel plans, rather than depending on alarmist postings such as this.
David
Enquiries regarding further information welcome
Got stopped about 2 months ago on Sukhumvit rd heading towards Thong lo, it was 6am and I worse for wear, straight away looked an idiot by catching my back jeans pocket on the bike handrail causing me to fall onto my back. Police clearly checking for drugs, but were ok, asked me if I was drunk and I openly admitted to being very drunk- they smiled and said get home safe. No complaints from me.
I always LOVE the foreigner who feels it is his job to defend the good name of Thailand. I know about the Asoke intersection. The BTS and MRT exits are regularly patrolled by what appear to be a couple of motorcycle police who think it is their job to harass Westerners. Where is your ID? is the first part and then attempting to physically search you is next. This is completely an utterly an unofficial money grubbing scam. The two areas mentioned are high traffic areas where many foreigners are likely to be and the scare tactics usually result in compliance. I do not use/buy/sell drugs. I have a business and a work permit and am married to a Thai. I DO NOT carry my actual passport with me but keep a copy on my phone. There are so many pickpockets and scammers that a valuable document like my passport is kept safely at home. If need be it can be produced with 24 hours – which any legitimate authority is bound to give you. secondly, allowing a policeman to put his hands in your pocket? And then he ‘finds’ something there? Planted no doubt. I will if necessary empty my own pockets but never will I allow anyone access to my pockets.
And Sean Enright – I fully agree that not only are Westerners targeted by the police but the local citizenry are too. However, it IS their country and their responsibility to stand up en masse and demand change. (They rarely do and the situation goes on unabated).
But as a Westerner, I cannot make the necessary social changes nor can I agitate for it. What I can do is still point out injustices and in this case the police ARE targeting Westerners. The threats are there to glean money from people. And most people are too scared and just pay to make the problem go away.
If you are going to justify that kind of mindless idiocy then ask yourself why the police are not harassing the unlicensed street hawkers in front of them – or the illegally parked taxis blocking traffic at the intersection. The reason – easy to scare the foreigner and get some money out of him.
I love Thailand and most Thai people are pretty great. BUT corruption is HUGE. Disgraceful behaviour towards the poor, disenfranchised and indeed foreigners is RAMPANT.
Good article and people should be aware of can happen to them. Because nobody will warn them nor help them when they are bailed up by the police at Asoke or Thong Lo where their only visible crime is being a tourist who may be a source of money.
say for arguments sake you come from a country where smoking weed is legal and of course whilst in Thailand you stay away from drugs but then fail a urine test upon shakedown…. what happens to you then?
I’ve been living in Thailand for over 15 years and the only time I experienced this sort of issue was back in around 2001 when the government started cracking down on nightlife and piss-testing everyone, both Thais and foreigners.
Maybe I’ve just been lucky but this article is very misleading, insinuating that this is a new thing and if you come to Thailand it’ll happen to you for sure.
Don’t take drugs, carry a copy of your passport (as required by law) and everything will be fine.
Sean I get where your coming from, I have been here for years as well. You are not talking about the same thing the article is though. They don’t stop Thai people on the street at all times of the day and night and search them, they certainly don’t demand a urine test; loss of face would be great! They do shut down clubs and test though, but its not just Thai’s I have been in Narz and they shut it down and tested all of us. However that was a planned and authorised operation. The harassment of (in general) white farang is racial profiling or grabbing an easy target who has access to cash might be more correct. It is happening with increasing frequency and anyone who plays along has to risk the fact that they may lie about your test in order to get cash. This is not simple law enforcement it is corruption at its worst. I have had it done to me and despite speaking Tai and knowing my rights I was forced to unlock my phone whilst they went through my messages. Having spoken to a judge, this is illegal! I was sober, on my way home and doing nothing illegal. Why was I targeted, my skin colour, and the fact i have a bank account are the only two reasons I can think of!
True, you need to at least carry a copy of your passport with you. But under no circumstance are you required to hand over your actual passport to a Police Officer. Only to an Immigration Official. I was told this by an Immigration Official.
Near Asok junction, I’ve been stopped a few times. But my most recently experience In October was by far the worse and most intrusive.
The 2 police officers stopped me as I was simply walking along the sidewalk having just come down from the BTS. This was 5pm. This is what proceeded to happen:
a) asked to see my passport. i handed them a copy of my passport top page. admittedly, i didn’t have a current copy of my stamped page, since I had just returned days prior from the States. i did inform them that i would be happy to come by the police station the next day with a copy of my stamped page. they were obviously unhappy with that idea.
b) the older officer repeatedly asked to see my actual passport. i explained to him that a copy is all that i have right now, and all that is required. it was a bit tattered since its been in my wallet for quite some time. he kept remarking on that as if this copy wouldn’t do.
c) the younger officer, at the same time, went through my pockets himself, pulling out my wallet, phone, and a packet of cigarettes with only a few left inside.
d) he took my wallet and pulled out every card from every sheath, checked it, and handed them back to me all at once with everything out of place.
e) people walking along the street are now rubbernecking. bc at this point, both officers had their hands on me in someway, frisking some part of my torso. it was embarrassing.
f) as i then tried to put everything back into my wallet, he asked me if the cigarettes i had was actually marijuana. i said, no, they are simply cigarettes. and he asked, if i smoke marijuana. i told him no of course not.
g) i was wearing two shirts, a button up over a t-shirt, and i had my sleeves rolled up. the younger officer began rolling my sleeves down himself because he felt the snap button underneath the roll and wanted to inspect. found nothing of course. another embarrassing sight.
h) at the same time as this was happening, the older officer took my cell phone and tried to unlock it, but i had a passcode on it. if i hadn’t he would’ve started going through my phone most surely.
i) at this point, i was visibly shaking. bc i was growing upset by how intrusive they were being. and so they asked me why am i nervous? i said i am not nervous, i am upset because you’re touching me, rolling down my sleeves, trying to check my cell phone. it’s too much. and the younger officer then said something to the effect of, we are police, you have to do what we say.
j) this all only ended bc the older officer got a phone call, just as i believe he was going to ask me to unlock my phone for inspection. but this didn’t happen. if it had, i’m sure i would have refused, and perhaps the situation would have escalated even more.
i have heard stories that sometimes when this happens, it is actually off-duty cops, or fake cops even, who will prowl the area for looking mostly for men who are walking on their own. trying to shake down a few thousand the for some manufactured grievance, in order to supplement their admittedly meager wages.
what i’ve heard is that cops are ridiculously under paid by salary, and that’s the main motivation to rely on graft and bribes for supplementary income. that’s the sad part, if only they were paid a decent living wage for being police officers, perhaps none of this would be happening.
I’ve had 2 resident friends who were stopped in separate incidents. Both were coerced by 2 Police officers off the main road into a small Soi before being vigorously searched then asked for a 2,000 Baht fine for no reason.
[…] the rounds on social media.. Travel warning Thailand: Bangkok police accelerate random visitor urine tests, searches, interrogati… This would appear to be based off this BKK post information. IMO, taking one report and making […]
Thankfully the Rule of Law still applies everywhere else.
You have lost my millions, Thailand.
Sincerely,
Quality Tourist With Respect for Due Process.
This article needs a little clarification. First of all, THAIS have always been subject to the exact same treatment. I can’t count the number of clubs that have been raided over the years where every single Thai patron was drug tested, and if failed, charged under Thai law and dragged off to jail while the foreigners were sent on their way unimpeded/untested. So this is not profiling of any kind. You are, in fact, now being treated just like everybody else – well within Thai law. Secondly, embassies will not intervene in matters of local law enforcement – check any consular website and it will clearly tell you you are on your own if you break local laws. Third; having a “smart ass” attitude like “I know my rights!” or “I’m an American Citizen!” will absolutely NOT help. If your urine is clean, be patient, be polite, stick it out. If they have nothing on you, and you give them no reason, you’ll walk. If you’re urine is NOT CLEAN – be grateful you’re getting away with a fine – especially these days.
I lived in TH for more than 15 years.
From what I have learned, the cops even fabricate evidence to nail you.
So the ‘but if you’ve not done anything illegal, it’s a lot harder to get shaken down!’ is not rilly helpful.
Don’t saya a word, don’t talk to this monkeys, pretend to be dumb, just take your phone and record the full scene and tell them its already online. They will let you go for sure.
I walk down Sukhumvit every day and I see how the ”Mickey Mouse” Police, better known as the Cigarette Police are looking for foreigners (and only foreigners) smoking. They hide in telephone boots etc. And there is no trash bins along Sukhumvit Road, except at their table.
If you throw garbage you should be fined, but this is so obviously a scam as they never follow any Thai people smoking, only the Foreigners. Imagine if this took part in Europe or USA. Imagine the headlines. Everyone know what’s going on and the cigarette police is paying someone higher up.
There are so many scams and you cannot call the police
Every day I read how they want the tourists back, it is like a robber asking for people to rob when there are no longer any people walking down a dark and dangerous alley
By the way…. I got this from the lawyers today regarding when you must agree to a search and when you don’t need to.
Sunbelt Asia Legal Advisers responds: If the police have set up correctly labeled gates and barriers with clear signs stating Seize / Stops and there are high ranking enough officers then the police have the right to conduct searches and tests on anyone, including Thai nationals. If you refuse a search or test at such a legal barrier then you run the risk of being charged with obstruction.
However, if the barrier is unofficial, i.e. not clearly signed or lacking in the correct ranking officer, then you can refuse to be searched or tested. In either case, it is in your best interest to contact friends or family to witness the situation before anything proceeds. The sign will be in Thai language and will state that you must stop, usually it is a large lighted sign. The lowest ranking officer that must be at the stop is Police Sub-Lieutenant.
However, visitors who come from places where it is not illegal to smoke dope may have residual THC in their system and be busted for it in Bangkok, despite not having broken any law in Thailand. Fucking long-term smug expats like yourself, Sean, who get on this holier-than-thou kick give me the shits. Oh year, I’ve been visiting and living in Thailand for 28 years, so your 12 doesn’t count for shit as far as I’m concerned.
Its true that they stop Thais too. I was once pulled over in the morning on my motorcycle, along with a line of Thais, and when they got to me they were surprised to see I was a foreigner. They just asked to look in my bag, didn’t even ask for ID! They just let me go.
I lived in Bangkok for 4 years up to a couple of years ago and was targeted for searches in exactly the same manner about 7 times in total so this is not new. The urine tests on the street are new, that’s all. It used to happen mostly during the 2month run-up to new year for some reason.
Its true that they stop Thais too. I was once pulled over on my motorcycle, along with a line of Thais, and when they got to me they were surprised to see I was a foreigner. They just asked to look in my bag, didn’t even ask for ID!
Sean, do you live in the Thonglor area? These shakedowns only happen to you if you are not with a Thai and happen at all times of the day to pretty much everyone I know who lives there since about 4-5 months. Happened to me twice already now, once with drug testing. My friends in the area and me live in Bangkok over 10 years and this never happened before and did not happen to any of us outside this area yet. This is targeted at foreigners so dont talk about things you have no first hand knowledge about.
Doh!
Please edit for me.
‘rules are rules’
Auto correct strikes again!
Firstly, it IS targeted at westerners, since Thais aren’t subject to random stops in the street.
Secondly, there are rules regarding searches to ensure people aren’t searched illegally. Chief amongst these rules are police need ‘reasonable reason’ to search someone. ‘Being white and walking down the street’is simply racial profiling – something most of us have come to abhor.
And the need to carry an original passport at all times is out-dated, unrealistic and xenophobic.
And please don’t say ‘rules are Tyler’s or I’ll assume you think marijuana smokers deserve imprisonment and gay people shouldn’t be allowed to marry – those are rules too.
Sean Enright: Getting stopped twice by the Royal Thai Police in Bangkok over one weekend is abnormal; either they were extremely unlucky or some kind of shakedown on Westerners is currently going on. Thonglor and Asoke are upscale neighborhoods, they were not in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Things have definitely gotten worse under the current coup (I have lived here for 12 years too, so I am in a position to judge). Do you think it is reasonable that visitors/foreigners must now carry their passports with them at all times? What about at the beach?
I don’t buy your argument that essentially if you have done nothing wrong, you have got nothing to worry about. There are lots of scams, especially at the airport where departing tourists sometimes get accused of shoplifting and are encouraged to pay stiff fines in order not to be detained and miss their flights home.
In Thailand, it’s “who you know” that keeps you protected, because the justice system doesn’t work and you need to know important people (or be in an important job, like a company manager or a university lecturer). I once got stopped for a traffic violation that I didn’t commit; the cops let me go immediately when I told my wife, “call the “nai amphur” [local mayor] for help). I realize now that was an overreaction, but it is an example of how you need to be prepared to call on your personal resources, because you will always be an outsider.
You’ve made some good points, Sean. We, too, think it’s a mistake to engage in illegal drugs while in Thailand. And ID should be carried wherever one goes.
The larger issue is how Thailand wishes to treat visitors. In today’s Bangkok Post, there was yet another letter describing a poor way to treat visitors: “Feeding on foreigners”: http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/opinion/446227/crooked-police-undeterred Among other things, the author made reference to payouts to police made by those who were searched.
Tourism is down 20% this year in Thailand. Potential visitors are voting with their feet in electing to go elsewhere, where they won’t be randomly shaken down for urine tests and searches. That’s most of the civilized world. This isn’t about the law. It’s about how a country grows — or destroys — a tourism industry.
im an expat that’s been living in Thailand 12+ years and there is decidedly something wrong with your article that should be corrected. First, they don’t only do this to westerners. They do it to locals as well. Sometimes they will shutdown a whole venue and test everyone inside. Drugs are illegal here and the police have the right to do this. So best policy is don’t so drugs.
Second, by law, visitors/foreigners must carry their passports/copy of passport with them at all times. Maybe you would be better off informing people of the laws rather than ignoring those important bits and suggesting only foreigners are targeted. It’s simply a local law enforcement practice.
Now, are there shakedowns? Sure, but if you’ve not done anything illegal, it’s a lot harder to get shaken down!