A team of Thai police officers have gone viral after disguising themselves as a female dance troupe to arrest a suspected drug dealer during a street festival. The operation took place last week in the Tha Luang district in the central Lop Buri Province, where officers dressed in sparkly outfits to get close to their target without raising suspicion.
In a Facebook post, Tha Luang Police identified the suspect as Mekha Fa-wap-wap, who was detained on drug and illegal gambling charges. Police seized 53 methamphetamine pills, more than 200 plastic bags believed to be used for drug distribution, and a mobile phone allegedly linked to an illegal online slot-machine operation.
A photo shared after the arrest showed a team of mostly male officers in glittering dresses posing with the handcuffed suspect, prompting a wave of jokes from readers. “21 Jump Street at play,” one social media user wrote, referring to an American comedy film about undercover cops posing as high school students.
The cross-dressing sting was not the first time Thai police have used theatrical tactics to catch a suspect. In February, Bangkok officers dressed as a red-and-gold lion dance troupe during Lunar New Year festivities to arrest a man accused of stealing Buddhist artifacts.
The Bangkok team had previously also used other disguises, including construction workers, foliage, and Lycra-clad wrestlers, to approach suspects who might recognize plainclothes officers.
“You cannot hide from the invisible, or from what you cannot see,” Bangkok police captain Lertvarit Lertvorapreecha told The Guardian in February, stating that “The fastest way of arresting someone is to surprise them, when they’re enjoying life, not knowing what’s going on around them.”
While the intricate operations have repeatedly gone viral both in Thailand and abroad, Thai police have stressed the goal of the operations is effective law enforcement rather than making social media content or gaining internet fame.