Thai military police raided multiple street vendors along Bangkok’s Sukhumvit road yesterday, confiscating THB2 million (about US$64,000) worth of illegal sex toys and pills.
Around 9pm last night, the deputy chief of the Internal Security Operation Command (ISOC), Col. Viroj Nongbualang, and Lumpini police investigated sex toy shops in the capital’s Watthana district — near the Nana BTS station — a very popular area for both tourists and locals looking for adult-oriented products.
Col. Viroj said they received “tips” and complaints from citizens about the stores, reported Workpoint.
We’re using quote marks around the word “tip” here as the police (and everyone else) are aware that the stalls in question have always sold toys and/or erectile dysfunction medication, known scientifically as “dick pills.”
Officials ultimately shut down ten stores and detained four store owners while about 10,000 sex and pills were confiscated.
Col. Viroj added that they’ve been cracking down on these illegal retailers recently — having reportedly just raided the area twice at the end of last year — but the stores keep popping back up.
Over the years, Nana station, has in fact become quite the epi-center for sex toys.
However, under Criminal Code Section 287, the trade or distribution of “obscene materials or things” is currently illegal and punishable with up to three years in prison.
Anyone familiar with how things work in Thailand is aware that just because something is “illegal” doesn’t mean it’s not sold — openly.
In a recent feature, your humble Coconuts crew proved that sex toys can also be effortlessly found in such Bangkok red-light districts as Nana, Silom, and Patpong — where law enforcement officers benefit handsomely from looking the other way.
We also talked to human rights activist Nisarat Jongwisan, who’s looking to revolutionize the kingdom’s relationship with sexual expression, starting with the legalization sex toys.
“I just want Thailand to know that there’s room for all different types of people in this country. Kids shouldn’t have to grow up the way I did [afraid of their impulses],” she told us.
Read our exclusive original feature here.
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