Controversy Over Thai Event's "Drug Search" Involving Clumsy Body and Underwear Inspection

Music Festival Held in Bangkok

At an event in Thailand, security guards have sparked controversy by conducting excessive body searches on attendees. Photo by SNS capture

A Thai security company is facing controversy for conducting excessive body searches on women trying to enter a music festival held in Bangkok.

On the 1st (local time), according to the British media outlet Daily Star, during the '808 Festival' held last month in Bangkok, Thailand, security guards physically touched female attendees, including their buttocks and breasts, while conducting body searches.

The head of the security company explained that the measures were unavoidable to find hidden drugs, but criticism has continued that the body searches were excessively invasive. The media reported that the security guards thoroughly searched the buttocks and even inside the bras to find drugs.

However, among attendees, voices have emerged saying the body searches were too excessive and even humiliating. One woman posted a video of the body search on social media (SNS), saying, "Not only me, but every woman was directly inspected inside their bras."

She further explained, "There was no prior guidance given to attendees before the body searches, and only after entering the venue were we informed that the body searches were a separate operation by the Thai police, unrelated to the event organizers."

Hitomi Okemoto, who came from Japan to enjoy the event, also told local media outlet Coconuts in an interview, "The body searches were too severe. I have been to many other festivals in Thailand, but I have never experienced such physical inspections."

As the controversy escalated, the 808 Festival organizers explained that the measures were taken to prevent drug smuggling and were carried out at the request of the police. A representative of the security company stated, "We were just following orders," and added, "Our job is to prevent drugs from entering the venue."

They also added, "People hide drugs in places we cannot touch. There were so many people trying to bring illegal substances like drugs into the venue that we had no choice."