Four Rayong karaoke venues raided over suspected prostitution and missing licences

RAYONG — 17 October 2026, Authorities raided four karaoke venues in Pluak Daeng district early on Saturday after investigators found evidence of suspected prostitution at two establishments. Preliminary checks indicated that all four lacked entertainment venue licences.

Deputy Interior Minister Polpee Suwannachawee led the operation at 00:30 alongside senior Interior Ministry officials, Department of Provincial Administration investigators, Volunteer Defence Corps members, and a provincial administrative task force.

The venues inspected were Qing Ren KTV, Xing Wei KTV, World Party KTV, and Grand Hyatt KTV.

The raids followed a joint investigation by the Department of Provincial Administration and Rayong provincial authorities. Investigators found that some establishments offered private karaoke rooms with female staff accompanying customers, sold alcohol, and charged high service fees. Chinese customers were a key target market.

Investigators said they had gathered evidence of suspected prostitution at two venues and information about Vietnamese women providing services on the premises.

Preliminary licensing checks found that none of the four establishments held a licence to operate an entertainment venue under the Entertainment Places Act of 1966. Authorities said any determination of offences would depend on the facts and the legal requirements for each charge.

Polpee said he had instructed investigators to expand their inquiries to identify the operators, people who recruited workers, managers, financiers, and ultimate beneficiaries, with legal action to follow where supported by evidence.

He also ordered that anyone arrested, along with any seized evidence, be handed over to police investigators for further proceedings. The report did not specify whether any arrests or seizures had been made.

Any government officials found to be involved, regardless of rank or agency, would be reported to their superiors for disciplinary action alongside criminal prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, he said.

The Interior Ministry said investigators would examine the involvement of people at every level to prevent businesses from being used to profit from illegal activities.