Phuket go-go bars in Soi Bangla pass the AHTD test

PHUKET: Officers from the Anti-Human Trafficking Division (AHTD) of the Royal Thai Police and Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) on Friday night inspected go-go bars in Soi Sea Dragon, off Soi Bangla in Patong, but failed to uncover any evidence of lewd behavior.

Twelve officers from the AHTD Region 5 and ISOC, commanded by AHTD Region 5 Deputy Inspector Pol Lt Anan Nitirangsan, raided seven go-go bars including Exotica and the Candy Club a-Go-Go at about 10pm.

The raid was to target clubs showing “nude shows” and lewd acts such as “ping-pong shows” and to arrest any club operators allowing such activity.

Before the raid commenced, officers asked media in attendance to wait at a restaurant on Phra Baramee Road, so that the targeted venues remained unaware of the impending operation.

Once the raids started it was about half an hour before officers allowed the media onto the scene at Soi Sea Dragon.

At the scene police were observed questioning employees outside the bars. Inside, officers found only dancing girls on stage, dressed respectably in bikinis.

It was evident to the media that the shows were all completely hidden from outside view within the various establishments.

— Atchaa Khamlo