30 Dec 2002

bangkok police raid famous gay sauna

The well-known Babylon Sauna-Barracks, listed on nearly every Bangkok gay city guide, was raided by police last Friday night following a tip-off.

Bangkok police, led by the recently appointed Deputy Interior Minister Pracha Maleenond, raided Babylon Sauna on Friday night reported the Bangkok Post.

Well-known Babylon Sauna-Barracks which is listed on nearly every Bangkok gay city guide
All 207 guests in the South Sathorn road sauna underwent a urine tests of which 20 tourists tested positive for drugs.

According to the paper, the raid followed a tip-off that Babylon Sauna, provided sex services for gay men.

The 6-storey establishment, well-known to be a gay sauna among local and foreign gay men for years, operates a sauna on the first 2 levels and a hotel on the next four storeys as well as a restaurant, gym and a swimming pool.

The operators were charged with operating a hotel without a licence.

To date this year, the police have shut down 68 nightspots - compared to 75 last year - for not complying with regulations.

Thailand