PATTAYA, THAILAND – Eight foreign nationals were detained on Pattaya Beach Road after authorities accused them of openly and aggressively soliciting tourists for prostitution.
Evening raid on Pattaya Beach Road
The joint operation by Chonburi Immigration Police and the provincial social welfare office took place on Monday evening, 30 December 2025, at around 8 p.m. in the beach area of Moo 10 along the well-known Pattaya Beach Road. Officers focused on individuals who, after repeated complaints from locals and visitors, were considered particularly intrusive and were therefore said by authorities to have affected public order and the image of the resort town.
Suspects from three African and Central Asian countries
According to police, those arrested included five people from Uganda, two from Uzbekistan and one from Madagascar. They were accused of violating Section 5 of the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act B.E. 2539 (1996), which prohibits openly soliciting, luring or harassing people in public for the purpose of prostitution when this is shameless or disturbing to the general public.
Visas revoked and immigration proceedings initiated
Following the arrests, the Chonburi immigration office revoked the suspects’ existing residence permits using form T.M. 83 and at the same time issued formal detention orders with form T.M. 35. The group was transferred to Nongprue Police Station for further processing, where proceedings under the Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) were underway that could result in the suspects’ deportation.
Operation led by senior officers
The operation was led by Pol. Col. Naphasphong Khositsuriyamanee, superintendent of the Chonburi Immigration Police, together with his deputies. Police worked closely with the Chonburi Provincial Office for Protection and Quality of Life Enhancement under the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, which is responsible in the province for social protection measures and improving quality of life.
Response to complaints from residents and tourists
The arrests formed part of an ongoing series of checks along Pattaya’s beachfront promenade. The background, according to officials, was persistent complaints from residents and holidaymakers about public solicitation for prostitution. Authorities stated that such operations were intended to strengthen the sense of security in the heavily frequented tourist district and to protect the international tourism image of the coastal city.