PATTAYA, THAILAND – District officials in Banglamung detained 13 people in a targeted raid on a central Pattaya rental apartment and transferred them into the state rehabilitation system on the evening of 11 March.
Evening entry at Nong Prue apartment block
The operation began at around 8:10 p.m., when a rapid-response team from the Banglamung district administration searched the so‑called Boom House in the Nong Prue subdistrict. According to authorities, officers systematically checked floors one through four and went through the rooms one by one.
Officials stated that the building was treated as a priority location due to its layout and the number of units. The search focused on occupied rooms and common areas that were considered possible gathering points.
District leadership directing the operation
The raid was overseen by Anusak Phiriyom, the district chief of Banglamung, who had ordered the operation. On-site command was handled by Khamphrai Laosae, head of security and deputy district chief, together with Peerapong Sampru, also a deputy district chief with security responsibilities.
District leadership coordinated the movements of the teams on each floor and monitored the progression of the checks. Communication between the command staff and the rapid-response officers was maintained throughout the search.
Neighbour complaints triggered the raid
According to the district administration, repeated complaints from the surrounding area led to the action, alleging that the building had become a meeting place for drug sessions. Residents reportedly spoke of an influx of young people and visitors from outside the neighbourhood, as well as suspicions of covert sales taking place inside the property.
Officials treated these reports as indicators of a possible emerging drug hotspot. The decision to raid the Boom House was framed as a response to community concerns about safety and order.
Surveillance before the entry
Before moving in, authorities carried out external surveillance of the building and reported conspicuous patterns of activity that appeared consistent with suspected drug transactions. When the operation leadership considered the timing favourable, officers entered the house and began searching the apartments.
The approach was intended to minimise the risk of evidence being destroyed and to capture as many suspected users on site as possible. Teams moved quickly from unit to unit to secure the premises.
Paraphernalia, suspicious behaviour and familiar faces
During the checks, officers said they found drug paraphernalia in several units and encountered residents showing signs of consumption. Some of those present had reportedly already come to notice in previous cases involving drug offences and had subsequently become active in the scene again.
Officials documented the items and the identities of the individuals for further processing. The findings were used as the basis for placing the detainees into the relevant state programs.
Not the first raid at Boom House
Authorities described this as at least the third raid at the same complex, during which users and dealers, as well as illegal substances, had been found in the past. The fact that a single property repeatedly came under scrutiny was presented as evidence of sustained pressure by the local administration to prevent visible drug hotspots from becoming permanent in Pattaya.
Officials argued that recurring operations showed an ongoing commitment to the provincial and national anti-drug policies. They indicated that properties with a history of offences would remain under particular observation.
Rehabilitation procedures instead of immediate charges
The 13 suspects were detained, registered and transferred into the legally prescribed programs for treatment and rehabilitation, which aimed at dependency treatment and relapse prevention. The district administration framed this as a focus on health-oriented measures alongside law enforcement.
Whether investigations or consequences against the owner or operator of the complex would follow remained initially unclear, according to authorities. No further details were provided on potential administrative or criminal steps concerning property management.
Announced inspections and interior ministry guidelines
The district administration announced that it would closely monitor the site and carry out regular inspections to prevent the building from once again becoming a meeting point for drug use. Officials said the measures were being implemented under national directives and instructions from the Ministry of Interior to push back drug trafficking and consumption in the region.
“The measures are in line with government guidelines and the Interior Ministry’s instructions to consistently curb drug trafficking and drug use in the region.”
said district authorities.