PATTAYA, THAILAND – Authorities in Banglamung district visibly expanded night-time foot patrols along Pattaya Beach to tighten security and bolster the resort’s troubled image.
Expanded patrols along Pattaya Beach
District chief Anusak Piriyamorn tasked his deputy Naththawat Sophonsewasil with leading a joint patrol of administrative officials and special units from the city of Pattaya on the night of 20 February. The teams walked the beach section in a systematic sweep, focusing, according to officials, on maintaining public order and ensuring the safety of both local and international visitors.
Response to previous drug use and indecency
The operation followed earlier observations that groups of vagrants had openly consumed illegal drugs in the beach area and engaged in indecent acts such as public masturbation. According to administration sources, such incidents had seriously damaged Pattaya’s standing as a leading tourist destination and created a sense of insecurity among many holidaymakers.
Regular checks and zero tolerance for illegal activity
In response, authorities in Banglamung district have been working closely with the Pattaya city administration to introduce regular inspections and targeted searches to suppress any form of illegal activity. The patrols have placed particular emphasis on drug possession and use, the handling of weapons, the unlawful sale of prohibited goods and begging, especially by foreign nationals, which is also illegal and has reportedly increased.
No offences found during latest night patrol
During the night-time operation on 20 February, officers reported finding neither drugs nor weapons and said they did not encounter individuals caught in the act of committing crimes. Instead, they focused on information and prevention, warning at-risk individuals about the
“serious legal consequences in the event of violations”
said officers involved in the patrol.
Call for public cooperation
Officials urged tourists and residents to immediately report suspicious individuals or potentially illegal activities to the police, administrative officers or representatives of the city of Pattaya. They stated that confirmed violations would in future be met with consistent legal action without exceptions.
Goal: a permanently safe beach zone
With a combination of visible presence, preventive inspections and strict enforcement of the legal framework, district and city authorities said they aimed to establish Pattaya’s beach zone as a permanently safe area for visitors and local residents alike.