Phuket police bust another bar over legal closing time

Phuket police busted another bar over the legal closing time.

Officers from Mueang Phuket District and Wichit Police raided Phuket a bar in the Wichit sub-district of the main city district in the early hours of Friday morning. This was after concerned citizens complained that the bar was opened past the legal closing time.

The cops arrested the bar’s manager, a man identified only as Sompong. Sompong was unable to present a legal bar license to the officers, The Phuket Express reported.

Officers brought Sompong to Wichit Police Station to face charges of opening an entertainment venue without permission, and selling alcohol past the legal time.

The raid on the bar in Wichit came just two days after Phuket police raided another bar in Phuket’s main city district. In the early hours of Wednesday, February 22, officers raided a bar located on Chana Jaroen Road in the Talad Yai sub-district.

The team found over 200 people inside the bar enjoying a live music performance. Meanwhile, the bar was still serving food and alcohol. Police said they arrested the bar’s manager, 27 year old Wisarut. The officers said Wisarut was unable to present a legal bar license.

Officers brought Wisarut to Phuket City Police Station to face charges of operating an entertainment venue without permission, and selling alcohol past the legal time.

There have been a few recent crackdowns in Phuket and Thailand involving nightlife and partying.

In another incident last week, police arrested a Russian man and a Thai woman in Patong over cannabis and work permits. This was after Kathu District Chief Thitiwat Boonkit led a team to inspect cannabis shops in Patong.

The Thai woman, identified as 39 year old Apiradee Hanyek, was accused of selling cannabis buds without a permit. Some 175 bags of cannabis buds were seized from her shop. The Russian national, identified as 34 year old Rychkov Kirill was accused of working without a permit.