Pattaya, Thailand-
Highlights:
- Banglamung Police arrested eighteen people for holding an illegal birthday party in Pattaya that violates strict Covid-19 rules
- Drugs were also found at the scene, according to police, including ecstasy pills
- Six of the suspects tested positive for drugs in their system
Banglamung Police raided a birthday party late last night, August 17th, arresting a total of eighteen suspects. Parties and social gatherings are currently illegal in Chonburi province, which includes Pattaya, due to Emergency Decree rules to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus.
The raid took place at 11:00 P.M. last night, August 17th, at a home in Ban Grak 6 located in the Nong Pla Yen sub-district of Banglamung. The raid was led by Lt. Col. Sakchai Suwannakul from the Banglamung police station. The raid followed a tip being made to police about the party from a concerned citizen who was allegedly afraid the event could spread the Covid-19 coronavirus.
Eighteen people, many of them teenagers, were found at the party which was for the 21st birthday of one attendee. Multiple drugs and alcohol were found both in the belongings of the party attendees and at the premises of the house where the event was being held, according to Banglamung police. This included at least 40 tablets of ecstasy.
All eighteen people at the party were arrested, although their names were not released immediately by Banglamung police. They face strict charges due to current Covid-19 rules and various laws that prohibit all gatherings of more than five people, social events, mingling, and parties. These laws include the Emergency Decree to prevent Covid-19 and the Chonburi Communicable Disease Control orders. Under the rules, more than one person gathering with alcohol is also against the law currently in the Pattaya area.
The eighteen suspects were taken to the Pattaya City Police station where, according to arresting officers, six of them have tested positive for having drugs in their system, although the exact drug was not named.
The suspects remain in custody as of press time and are expected to face an initial court hearing for violation of the emergency decree later this week. Those suspects who allegedly tested positive for drugs and had possession of illegal drugs will face additional charges, Banglamung police added.