Nine LGBT held in drugged water investigation

>>NONTHABURI: Nine men were questioned and detained by police over alleged sexual activities at Nonthaburi City Hall’s park Friday night.

They were nabbed as part of an ongoing investigation into cases involving two men who were previously drugged at the park while exercising, police said.

Police said traces of Xylazine, a sedative, were found in the water bottles of the victims.

The nine suspects, identified as LGBT, were charged with obscenity in public, police said.

Police said they confiscated condoms and lubricant gel from the suspects, adding pornography was found in the suspects’ phones.

DNA specimens from the suspects were collected as part of the probe.

Pol Lt Gen Amphon Buarapphon, chief of Provincial Police Region 1, said investigators believe the men drugged at the park while exercising might have been targets for rape.

Investigators have not yet ruled out any other possible motives behind the drugging incidents, he said.

Following the incidents, officials were ordered to step up security patrols, install more lights and security cameras at all parks in the province, Nonthaburi governor Suchin Chaichumsak said.