Banglamung officials raided South Pattaya bars and restaurants selling shisha after new restrictions banning sales and possession went into effect.
District and Chonburi provincial suppression officers led a team of police and soldiers on a June 10 inspection of shops and bars after owners were notified by the provincial government that buraku and shisha sales would not be tolerated any further. The last paragraph of the notice went as far as to tell bar owners that they would not be spared even if they were paying police for protection.
Some, apparently, didn’t get the message. Aladdin Shisha on Soi 16 was the first raided, with officials finding paraphernalia and large quantities of buraku. All were seized.
Police raid several South Pattaya bars and restaurants selling shisha, confiscating buraku, shisha pipes and other items worth more than a total 600,000 baht.
The Pari shop on Soi Yensabai was hit next. While the shop was closed, the smell of shisha was in the air, so police assumed the owner was tipped off before officers arrived.
The last target was Aladdin shop on Soi 17, which is connected to the shisha bar a block over. It also was shut down. This time, however, authorities broke in and found large quantities of contraband, which was seized.
Walking Street’s Utopia and Rock House bars also were raided, with shisha paraphernalia seized.
The three shop owners later were arrested and presented at a police press conference.
Pichate Pimphut, 34, Somwang Deesuankok, 60, and Pracha Rodnoy, 23, were arrested with 15 kilograms of buraku, 50 shisha pipes and other items worth more than a total 600,000 baht.
Violators can be fined up to 300,000 baht and imprisoned.
