BANGKOK, Thailand – Thai narcotics police arrested 14 people during a raid on a karaoke bar in Bangkok’s Nuanchan area, seizing ketamine and accusing two Vietnamese nationals of selling the drug to Thai and foreign customers.
Officers from the Narcotics Suppression Bureau’s Division 1 joined Khok Khram police in searching Paradise KTV Karaoke & Restaurant on Soi Nuanchan 28 in Bueng Kum district at around 4am on October 17. The operation was conducted under a Criminal Court search warrant dated October 16.
The investigation began after police received information that reception staff at the venue were allegedly selling controlled substances to customers. Undercover officers began monitoring the premises late on October 12 and reported witnessing a suspected sale of two grams of ketamine for 2,200 baht at around 1.03am on October 13.
Officers attempted to detain the suspected seller, but the person escaped through the venue’s private karaoke rooms and complicated access routes. Police seized two bags containing ketamine powder and crystals and continued gathering evidence before obtaining an arrest warrant.
During the latest raid, officers arrested 14 people. Two Vietnamese nationals — Thi Thi Nguyen, 39, who was wanted under a court warrant, and Tran Van Phap, 38 — were charged with jointly selling Category 2 psychotropic substances, ketamine, without authorisation for commercial purposes and in a manner alleged to promote its spread among the public.
Two other Vietnamese men were arrested on suspicion of possessing ketamine for personal use.
The remaining 10 people, comprising five Vietnamese men, four Vietnamese women and one Thai woman, were charged with ketamine use, according to police. A further three grams of ketamine were seized during the search, bringing the total amount confiscated in the investigation to six grams.
The two alleged dealers were handed over to investigators from Narcotics Suppression Bureau Division 1, while the other 12 suspects were taken to Khok Khram police for further legal proceedings.
