UPDATE: Phuket officials seek five-year closure of CLC and The Black Bar

Officials are seeking five-year closure orders for CLC (COME LEO COME) and The Black Bar in Phuket’s Thalang district after charging their operators with running unlicensed entertainment venues. Authorities also reported suspected breaches involving alcohol sales and foreign workers and are investigating possible foreign nominee ownership and the venues’ funding.

The Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) and Phuket provincial administrative officials carried out the operation, codenamed “Andaman Lockdown”, on 8 November 2026. DOPA Deputy Director-General Ronnarong Thipsiri led the department’s special operations team, supported by DOPA S.W.A.T. and Phuket officials. Thai PBS reported that the operation began at 11.30pm, while Komchadluek and Thai Post reported 11.50pm.

The operation followed complaints alleging that some entertainment businesses had the backing of influential local figures and that foreign nationals were using Thai nominees to hold ownership on their behalf. Authorities were asked to investigate whether the arrangements involved money laundering. DOPA said it would coordinate with the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to trace the venues’ funding and establish whether it came from legitimate sources.

The venues were identified as CLC (COME LEO COME) and The Black Bar. CLC, in Soi Cherngtalay 4 in Si Sunthon, was found to have mostly foreign customers and separate areas for dance performances, a DJ booth, a bar and VIP rooms, according to officials. Staff and customers were separated for questioning, along with people connected to the venue, including its manager and security guards.

Komchadluek reported that CLC’s employees, manager, DJ and dance performers were foreign nationals, including people from Russia, Ukraine, Iran and Myanmar. DOPA said the venue had no entertainment-business licence and that most migrant workers appeared to be working in occupations that did not match the documents submitted for them.

Officials said CLC was registered in 2025 by a private company with one Thai female director. Investigators suspect she was acting as a nominee for Ukrainian investors, and said the allegation would be investigated further.

The Black Bar, in Thep Krasatti, was found to have similar suspected violations, although officials did not identify a connection to foreign capital. Nation Thailand reported that the operators of both venues were charged with running entertainment venues without licences. It also reported that one operator faced an additional charge for selling alcoholic beverages outside legally permitted hours; Komchadluek identified The Black Bar as facing that allegation in its account.

Authorities said the inspection found suspected offences under the Entertainment Place Act 1966, including operating without permission, as well as suspected breaches of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act 2008 and legislation governing the employment of foreign workers. Thai Post also reported that the conduct was considered a breach of NCPO Order 22/2558.

Officials coordinated with Phuket Immigration and the Phuket provincial employment office to check the immigration status of foreign staff and customers and verify whether workers held valid permits. They said they would prepare arrest records and ask the Phuket governor to order both venues closed for five years, with a five-year ban on opening establishments of the same type.