Officials raided two illegal pubs in the inner Bangkok district of Pathumwan and detained 15 foreigners for working illegally and one for illegal drug use early Sunday morning.
The two pubs were operating on soi Ratchadamri 1. They were raided by about 50 police and drug suppression officers about 12.30am on Sunday, acting on a complaint that foreigners were being illegally employed at the two establishments.
There were about 100 foreign customers in the two pubs, all under the influence of alcohol except one who tested positive for drug abuse. Fifteen foreign employees were arrested for either working illegally in occupations reserved for Thais or in jobs outside their work permits.
Official sources said both pubs had opened only recently, were managed by Thais and were unlicensed.
