Pattaya police inspected Beach Road last night, November 22nd, and took dozens of suspected transgender sex workers to the police station for identity recording in order to prevent potential crimes during the tourism high season.
The intense prostitution purge was conducted by a combined team of Pattaya police and tourist police last night at Beach Road following complaints from anonymous concerned citizens. This also comes in advance of the highly anticipated Pattaya International Fireworks Festival this weekend which is expected to attract over 100,000 visitors.
According to the leader of the operation Pol. Lt. Col. Pitchaya Khiaoplueng, many individuals whom he suspected were illegal sex workers left the road and pretended to be beachgoers strolling the beach immediately after they sighted police officers.
Nonetheless, 36 alleged sex workers were arrested and taken to the Pattaya police station to have their identities recorded. The reason for this measure was likely because Pattaya police were waging war on a rash of petty crimes allegedly committed by transgender suspects against tourists.
Pitchaya stressed to the suspects that they could not loiter on the beach and offer sexual services to people walking by because it contravened the Thai prostitution law and damaged Pattaya’s tourism image.
All suspects were released, and Pattaya police pledged to continue their crackdown on prostitution every day.
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