Banglamung District Chief
Sakchai Taengho (center) hands out stickers and leaflets carrying anti-drug
messages to workers at a Soi 6 bar.
Teerarak Panrak
Regional law enforcement is targeting Soi 6 and Koh Larn for
stepped-up action against drug use.
Areepakdi Ngenbamroong, director of the Areas Coordination Division at the
Narcotics Control Office Region 2, and Banglamung District Chief Sakchai
Taengho launched the community “x-ray” projects to look closer at the bar
district and island with plans to use gentle persuasion to curb drug use
and, if that fails, raids and arrests.
Areepakdi said Soi 6’s Yodsak community was chosen as it historically has
had high levels of drug use by the more than 700 bar employees working on
the street. Koh Larn was targeted for drug use by both locals and tourists.
The operation will start by having entertainment venues place stickers and
distribute leaflets to persuade bar owners and staff to cooperate with
authorities in monitoring and preventing drug use.
Bars that do not cooperate risk arrests and having their operating licenses
canceled, Sakchai said.