The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior is advancing social order reforms, declaring no settlements will be allowed and that violations will be met with immediate arrests, following Kamphaeng Phet's raid on an illegal nightclub in the city center where drugs, users, and paraphernalia were found scattered throughout. A five-year closure order has been issued.
29 Aug 2026 GMT+7 Mr. Arsit Sampantharat, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior, revealed that the Ministry of Interior has received reports from Mr. Chatip Rujanaseri, Governor of Kamphaeng Phet Province, who ordered the “Chakangkraow Protection Unit,” consisting of administrative officers and members of the Territorial Defense Volunteers, specifically the “Kamphaeng Phet Provincial Administrative Special Operations Team,” to raid the Finland Private Club in Mueang Kamphaeng Phet District, Kamphaeng Phet Province. This followed undercover investigations by administrative officers who gathered intelligence revealing the venue operated beyond legal hours and was linked to drug-related gatherings.
This operation followed security unit intelligence at Kamphaeng Phet's administrative office receiving tips about the establishment. Administrative officers went undercover to investigate, collect data, and carefully plan the raid. The team entered the venue around midnight on 28–29 August 2026 while many patrons were still inside. They employed a sting operation purchasing alcoholic drinks past legal hours to collect evidence of illegal service and alcohol sales before revealing themselves to conduct a legal inspection and proceed according to law.
Mr. Arsit stated that inspections inside the venue uncovered drugs and drug-use equipment at multiple locations, including the nightclub area, restrooms, and karaoke rooms. Notably, in the restrooms, suspicious behaviors and items matching prior intelligence were found: groups of patrons entering simultaneously and leaving behind equipment and suspicious packages. Urine tests were conducted on patrons and individuals inside the establishment following legal procedures, with cases forwarded for legal and related measures.
Preliminary results of the operation included the seizure of drugs and drug-use paraphernalia, along with other related evidence. Additionally, inspection of licenses and business documents revealed violations including operating without authorization, providing services beyond legal hours, selling alcohol past permitted times, and illegal discount promotions for alcohol sales. Officials seized all evidence for forensic examination and prosecution on all charges, leading to a provincial governor’s order to close the establishment for five years under social order regulations.
"Kamphaeng Phet Province has instructed administrative officers to rigorously and continuously enforce social order. Operators in the province are warned that any establishment violating laws or permitting drug-related gatherings will face strict legal actions on all charges, including maximum penalties, without exception. This aligns with the social order and drug crackdown policy to eliminate illegal venues and disrupt drug activity networks, supporting policies of Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul and the Ministry of Interior to alleviate suffering, promote well-being, maintain peace, eradicate drugs, and combat criminals. It also follows directives from Deputy Ministers Pol Phee Suwannachavee, Je Seth Thaiset, and Worasit Liangprasit to scan for all law offenders with no settlements allowed, enforcing laws and maximum penalties to prevent entertainment venues from becoming sustainable drug hot spots."