Tourist police sweeped through the Nana and Pratunam areas last night to target “colored people,” detaining 72 clearly guilty of having black skin for drug tests.
Saying they were acting on complaints of black people abusing drugs and “deceiving Thai women,” over 80 police officers were sent to hunt down and round up the darker-skinned people found around Sukhumvit sois 3 to 13, Petchaburi and Ratchaprarop roads.
“The foreign criminals come in many forms, and the target for us tonight is colored people,” police Lt. Col. Bawornpop Sutornreka said at a news conference. [Ed. note: While Bawornpop’s use of the term “colored people” (pew sii) translates offensively in English, its usage is mainstream in Thai.] “First things first, remember that we don’t know if they’re guilty, so address them politely and treat them with respect.”
Those testing positive for drugs will face charges while those lacking proper legal status will be deported, Daily News and Morning News reported.
Photos: Morning News
