Bangkok: Deputy Interior Minister Polpeer Ponlapir, along with Deputy Interior Minister Worasit, spearheaded "Operation Lion Suppresses the Black Dragon," targeting a Chinese-owned pub in the Huai Khwang area that defied previous closure orders. The raid on 577CLUB, a venue previously ordered to shut down, was part of a broader crackdown on illicit businesses in the region.
According to Thai News Agency, the operation was conducted by a special task force, including the Special Operations Unit of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA SWAT), under the leadership of Mr. Polpeera Suwannachawi and Mr. Worasit Liengprasit. The raid took place at 1:30 AM at the 577CLUB located in Soi Pracha Uthit 11, following intelligence reports of the venue's unauthorized operations. The establishment was found lacking a valid entertainment license and operating beyond permitted hours.
General Peer disclosed that the Ministry of Interior had received complaints about the venue's continued operations despite an earlier raid on August 16, 2025. Investigations revealed that the pub catered primarily to Chinese tourists, employing Chinese staff and utilizing Chinese payment systems like WeChat and Alipay. This evidence led authorities to suspect that the business was a Chinese operation using Thai nominees as a front.
The raid also uncovered undocumented foreign workers, prompting the Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration to explore legal actions under the Prime Minister's Office Regulations on Deportation B.E. 2569 (2026). Additionally, drugs and e-cigarettes were discovered on the premises, and positive urine tests for narcotics were recorded.
General Peer emphasized the government's firm stance against illegal businesses and exploitation, stating that all illicit activities, especially those preying on Thai citizens and failing to contribute to the national economy, must cease. He urged officials to uphold the law and eliminate such operations.
Authorities are pursuing legal actions based on several violations, including operating without a license, illegal liquor sales, illegal employment of foreign workers, and narcotics-related offenses. Evidence is being gathered to enforce a potential 5-year closure of the establishment, and further investigations aim to trace the narcotics' source and those involved in distribution.