From Pattaya News

Pattaya police have arrested over 50 people in a major crackdown on drug use and crime during Operation “Parasite Clean-up Part 2” in the Jomtien area.

At 5:00 AM on December 23rd, Pol. Maj. Gen. Thawatchakrit Jindakwanasong, the Chief of Chonburi Provincial Police, led a large-scale operation called “Parasite Clean-up Part 2” to crack down on crime.

The operation targeted various criminal activities in the Jomtien area, specifically in Soi 2, 3, and 4, located in Pattaya. Over 900 officers were involved in the crackdown as well as drug sniffing dogs.

These alleys had previously been on the news for open drug dealing and multiple arrests earlier this month. The area mainly consists of 5-story buildings with businesses like beer bars, restaurants, laundry shops, and massage parlors on the ground floor, while the upper floors are used as living spaces. Many of the buildings are abandoned and run-down, especially since COVID-19, leading to a large number of squatters and homeless in the area. Prior to COVID-19, the area contained many more legitimate businesses but unlike other parts of Pattaya and Jomtien never fully recovered, instead becoming full of illegal activity, say police.

During the operation, authorities cut internet signals and communication systems, as well as water and electricity in some areas. They then carried out searches of the buildings to find illegal items, such as weapons and drug paraphernalia, and tested people for drug use. Some individuals were found using methamphetamine and acting erratically, while others were found in possession of drugs.

https://thepattayanews.com/2024/12/23/over-900-police-officers-raid-jomtien-sois-2-4-to-eradicate-illegal-drugs/

1 hour ago, reader said:

The operation targeted various criminal activities in the Jomtien area, specifically in Soi 2, 3, and 4, located in Pattaya.

Wow - getting VERY close to home.

The IRONY is that in the nearby soi (next soi over), soi 5, is the dreaded Thailand immigration office.

I wish I could have seen these 900 cops in operation - like a GIANT and LARGE dragnet operation --> but at 5am I was still sleeping.

1 hour ago, bkkmfj2648 said:

> but at 5am I was still sleeping.

 not alone one hopes

Well - there is still a BIG buzz about what happened with the raid on Jomtien soi 2, 3, and 4 at 5am.

Today was my 4 hands massage with my volleyball friend and he told me the following about the 900 police incident:

Listen, you need to understand the Thai police mentality.  The year end is very near and the police need to show that they are doing something, as this is the time of the year that they hand out promotions.

I replied, "but how can the Thai government afford to promote 900 police officers because of the 5am raids on Jomtien soi 2, 3, and 4, where they only arrested around 100 people?"

He replied, "only those police officers of the 900 who captured someone will get a promotion (i.e., 100)"

I replied, "ah, so it operates like the volleyball tournaments over on the gay Dongtan beach?"

We both had a good laugh.

I closed with, "well I still have a lot to learn as a foreigner about the Thai way of thinking - especially when it comes to the Thai police....."