Police Raid Secret 24-Hour Drug Den Disguised as Gaming Arcade
Police raided a secret 24-hour drug den disguised as a gaming arcade in Bangkok's Huai Khwang District on July 18, arresting 11 suspects and seizing drugs, cash, and valuables worth approximately 300,000 baht.
On July 18, 2025, the Crime Suppression Division and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration executed a raid on a secret drug den operating as an underground bar in a four-story commercial building on Pracha Uthit Road in Huai Khwang District, Bangkok. Acting on a court search warrant, officers arrested 11 suspects and seized 224 MDMA tablets, 51.16 grams of methamphetamine, 3.83 grams of cocaine, 326.24 grams of ketamine, 19 ecstasy pills, 38 electronic cigarettes, 91,000 baht in cash, two rings, and a gold-like amulet worth an estimated 300,000 baht total.
The operation followed a police directive to inspect entertainment venues throughout Bangkok after a nightclub fire in the Lat Phrao area. Investigators discovered the venue, known informally as a "secret pub," was actually a commercial arcade used as a front. The establishment operated continuously for 24 hours, restricted access to regular customers—primarily bar hostesses and entertainment workers—and served as an after-hours location. Dark tinted film blocked all windows, making it impossible to distinguish day from night, with the venue packed from 4 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The venue sold various drugs including ketamine, ecstasy, and MDMA to customers who could use them openly at tables. Officials found the building had no operating license, only one entrance with no emergency fire exit, and violated safety standards. The ground floor operated as a full-service entertainment venue with 28 customers and staff present during the raid. A mezzanine level contained VIP rooms, and the second floor housed the owner's bedroom and drug stockpiles.
Police charged two suspects—identified as Somchai and Patthana, the alleged owner and an employee—with drug possession for distribution, possession of electronic cigarettes, unlicensed operation, and violating opening hours regulations. Nine other suspects, including staff and customers found with drugs in their systems, were also detained. During interrogation, Somchai admitted operating the venue for 1-2 years and purchasing drugs for personal use and resale to tourists.
Deputy Police Chief Theeradej Thammosutee noted this case exemplifies serious safety risks: the single entrance with no fire escape, closed-off kitchen area, and patrons impaired by drugs created extreme danger in an emergency. He emphasized lessons from recent tragic losses in society underscore the critical need for rigorous enforcement.
