SRI RACHA, THAILAND – Authorities in Sri Racha district detained a 44-year-old woman at Koh Loy pier over allegedly misleading and overpriced offers to tourists.
Operation at busy pier to Ko Sichang
The intervention took place on 3 January 2026 at Koh Loy pier, a heavily used ferry terminal for services to the holiday island Ko Sichang off Chonburi province. The action was triggered by complaints from local residents, who warned that misleading offers from private brokers were damaging the image of local tourism.
According to these reports, motorcycle rentals, accommodation and speedboat transfers were promoted at high prices and with exaggerated promises. Officials said the operation aimed to protect both Thai and foreign travellers using ferry and speedboat services to the island.
Large joint task force ordered by governor
On orders from Chonburi Governor Narit Niramaiwong, district chief Weekit Manarojkit assembled a joint task force. It included district security officers, police from Sri Racha Police Station, personnel from the Marine Department, staff from Sri Racha Municipality, members of the Volunteer Defense Corps (Unit 2) and volunteers from the Lions group “Phithak Ratch”.
Authorities stressed that the coordinated presence was intended to strengthen safety and confidence among passengers at the key transport hub.
“Such operations are meant to ensure that travellers are not misled by people who falsely present themselves as official representatives.”
said officials from the relevant agencies.
Detention of “Ms. Big” and positive drug test
During inspections, officers identified a woman matching earlier descriptions and listed in documents under the pseudonym “Ms. Big”, aged 44. She was questioned on site and subjected to a random urine test for illegal substances.
The test result was positive, and she was handed over to Sri Racha police for further legal action related to drug use. Parallel to the questioning, officials continued to check for irregular tourism offers at the pier.
Violation of cleanliness and order law
Staff from Sri Racha Municipality also found that the woman had been distributing flyers and business cards without permission. They viewed this as a violation of Section 10 of the Act on Maintaining Cleanliness and Orderliness of the Kingdom B.E. 2535 (1992), as amended in B.E. 2560 (2017).
Under this provision, the offence carries a potential fine of up to 5,000 baht. Authorities said the measure was intended not only to protect tourists but also to maintain order and cleanliness in public spaces around the pier.
Drug screening for ferry and speedboat operators
Alongside the detention, ferry and speedboat operators at Koh Loy were subjected to random urine screening as part of a broader safety review. All tests on vessel operators were negative, according to the agencies involved.
Officials stated that these results were meant to bolster passenger trust in the reliability and safety of maritime transport services to Ko Sichang.
“The checks at Koh Loy pier are a signal that misleading tourism offers and unauthorized advertising will be consistently addressed.”
said officials involved in the operation.
Safeguarding Chonburi’s tourism reputation
Responsible bodies described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to protect Chonburi’s reputation as a travel destination and prevent exploitation of visitors at key transport nodes. They emphasized that strict checks were intended to curb practices that could harm the local tourism sector.
“Overpriced offers, false promises and supposed officials are where many holidays begin – and where trust in a destination can be lost.”
said local sources, noting that the state faced the challenge of acting decisively without undermining small local businesses.