36 suspected drug users nabbed in Pattaya club raid

Police and Pattaya officials have raided a Pattaya club early this morning (Monday) and identified 36 customers who allegedly tested positive to illicit drug use.

The assistant Bang Lamung district chief led the raid on JT Club Karaoke in Tambon Nong Plue, Pattaya, at 3.30am. Officials are reported to have found 150 customers dancing, even though the legal closing time is 2am.

They also found that 70 of them were under the age of 20, the legal age for going to pubs and clubs in Thailand. Of those, seven were under the age of 16 – two boys and five girls. More than half of the patrons tested allegedly tested positive to drugs. A small bag of the drug ketamine was also found on the floor.

The Nation reports that the manager of JT Club Karaoke, Praewprao McCulloch, was arrested and charged with violating opening hours laws, selling alcohol after licensing hours, allowing underage people to enter an entertainment venue, selling alcohol to underage people, and allowing drugs to be used in a venue under her responsibility.

The 36 patrons were also arrested for abusing drugs and will be sent for mandatory rehabilitation.

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