SURAT THANI, THAILAND – Two Ugandan women were arrested on the resort island of Koh Phangan by tourist police and local investigators on suspicion of prostitution after a complaint by a foreign visitor.
Tourist complaint triggered investigation
An Israeli holidaymaker filed a report with police, stating that he had been robbed on Koh Phangan during a paid encounter. The complaint was forwarded to the Tourist Police in Surat Thani, which then opened an investigation together with local officers.
Pol Lt Col Winit Boonchit, an inspector with the tourist police, confirmed that his team quickly deployed an undercover officer after receiving the report. The officer posed as a customer to make contact with the suspects under controlled conditions.
Undercover sting arranged via WhatsApp
The undercover officer contacted the women via WhatsApp and arranged a meeting under the pretext of purchasing sexual services. According to Pol Lt Col Winit, the officer agreed to pay 5,000 baht for a so‑called double service in order to secure evidence against the suspects.
The operation was coordinated to allow an arrest in the act and to collect legally robust evidence. Officers prepared to intervene at the agreed location once the suspects had accepted the offer.
Arrest in Koh Phangan house
On Sunday evening, officers entered an unnumbered house in Village 2, Tambon Koh Phangan, and arrested the two women. They were identified as Janat Nakalema, 32, and Mariam Namatovu, 29.
Police said a foreign male client was also found on the premises during the raid. He was present at the time of the operation but no further details about his role were disclosed in the report.
Admissions and income details
During questioning, the women admitted that they had been offering sexual services on the island for more than two months in exchange for payment. They said most of their customers were foreign holidaymakers visiting Koh Phangan.
The suspects told investigators they had served about 180 men over that period, averaging three to four clients per day. Each of them stated that she earned around 500,000 baht per month and regularly sent money to her family in Uganda.
Legal action under Thai prostitution law
After the arrest, the two women were taken to Koh Phangan police station. Pol Lt Col Winit said officers there had begun legal proceedings against the suspects.
Authorities did not initially release further details about the ongoing case or any possible immigration consequences. Prostitution is illegal in Thailand, with the law covering those who offer sexual services and, in certain circumstances, their clients.
Background: Policing tourist hotspots
Koh Phangan, a popular holiday island, attracts hundreds of thousands of international tourists every year. Police in such destinations regularly carry out operations against illegal activities, including prostitution networks that are often organized through messaging apps.
According to the authorities, this case illustrated that tips from tourists are followed up and that undercover methods are used to document offences. The approach was intended to secure evidence that can stand up in court and support consistent law enforcement in tourist areas.