Bangkok brothels stealing groundwater for ‘soapy massages’ may be causing capital city to sink
A system of bribes and loopholes keeps the lucrative industry afloat, with police largely turning a blind eye unless brothels are suspected of employing underage or trafficked sex workers
Thai police are checking dozens of Bangkok mega-brothels to see if they are illegally siphoning off groundwater for “soapy massages” offered to clients that may be contributing to the gradual sinking of the capital.
The crackdown was launched after a trafficking raid on “Victoria Secret” massage parlour found underage sex workers, a ledger listing bribes to officials and evidence the venue was stealing groundwater to avoid paying pricey utility bills.
Environmental officials say the illegal tapping of water contributes to the sinking of Bangkok, a low-lying city built on the banks of the Chaophraya river.
We will … examine the water quality of each room we will go inside
More than 40 “soapy massage” parlours – huge brothels with dozens private bathrooms where customers receive sexual services – are being inspected for water theft.
“Today we will … examine the water quality of each room we will go inside,” Suwat Inthasit, deputy commander of Natural Resources and Environment Crime Suppression Division, told reporters before leading a raid on the “Embassy Entertain” massage parlour in a Bangkok district notorious for its smutty nightlife.
“We suspect they have illegally used groundwater,” he said.
Environmental officers can test the water to determine whether it is from a legitimate piped source or illegally taken from the ground.