BANGKOK: Senior Thai interior ministry officials raided a large entertainment venue in Huai Khwang in Bangkok in the early hours of Saturday, August 29th, 2026, as part of an operation targeting an allegedly unlicensed nightclub, suspected Chinese nominee ownership, and possible drug activity.
Deputy Interior Ministers Phonphir Suwannachawee and Worasit Liangprasit led the raid with the Department of Provincial Administration special operations unit, known as DOPA S.W.A.T. The target was openly identified by the raiding officials as 577 Club, also known as the “Chinese Pub in Huai Khwang,” at 577 Prachauthit 11 Road in the Huai Khwang district.
Authorities said the venue was allegedly operating as an entertainment establishment without a license, remaining open well past legal hours and accepting payments through personal bank accounts and foreign platforms. Officials said they found no service-establishment permit in government records.
The raid began at about 1:30 a.m. Officers said they found hundreds of patrons, both Thai and foreign, still inside. They checked identification, searched the premises, tested people for drugs, and examined foreign staff.
Officials said some patrons reportedly tested positive for narcotics and that drugs were seized on the premises. Foreign workers were also found to be working outside the scope of their permitted jobs, authorities said. Those involved were taken for further legal action.
Investigators said earlier surveillance on July 27–28 found the club still busy after 2 a.m., with an estimated 300–400 people inside around 3 a.m. and the venue still open at 4 a.m. They described it as a large entertainment complex with a stage, singers, DJs, multiple service zones, and private VIP rooms.
Officials also said they were examining possible foreign control of the business. Investigators reported Vietnamese staff who could speak Chinese, hiring that favored Chinese speakers, and at least one Chinese national who appeared able to give orders and resolve problems inside the venue.
Payment methods included Alipay and WeChat. Authorities said receipts listed 577 Club Saeng Mungkon Thong Co., Ltd., or Saeng Mungkon Thong Company, as well as payments into multiple personal accounts. Officials said they would trace company structure, shareholders, investment sources, and the people who actually control the business.
A key focus is whether foreigners or overseas capital are using Thai nominees as shareholders, directors, or front people to evade legal limits on foreign ownership and control.
Officials listed possible charges including operating an unlicensed entertainment venue under the Entertainment Places Act B.E. 2509; alcohol sales outside legal hours under the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act B.E. 2551; measures under NCPO Order 22/2558 covering venues that operate like entertainment establishments; and foreign-labor offenses under the Emergency Decree on Managing the Work of Aliens B.E. 2560.
Drug cases will be handled separately under narcotics laws, officials said, with further investigation into suppliers and networks.
The ministry framed the raid as part of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul’s “Action 5 PLUS” policy, which includes cracking down on illegal venues, drugs, transnational crime, and nominee businesses. Officials said the club had previously been raided but reopened, despite being less than three kilometers from the responsible agencies.
The Department of Provincial Administration said it would continue enforcement against illegal venues. Members of the public can file complaints through Damrongtham centers or the Interior Ministry hotline 1567, available 24 hours a day.
