Pattaya —
Pattaya authorities detained several illegal immigrant beggars on Thursday to protect the city’s world-class tourism image.
At 6:00 PM on September 26th, Chonburi Immigration, Pattaya City officials, and the Chonburi Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office, jointly launched a crackdown on illegal immigrants begging in Pattaya. The authorities said the beggars were causing damage to the image of the city, which is a world-class tourist destination.
Officials inspected areas around Wat Chaimongkol on Pattaya Second Road and along Pattaya Beach, both of which are popular with tourists. They said immigrants had been using these locations to beg for money from tourists, causing annoyance.
Some even brought small children with them, which authorities suspected might not belong to them and could be victims of a human trafficking network. Others were elderly, and some appeared disabled to evoke sympathy from passersby. They would sit on the sidewalks, reaching out for money as tourists walked past them.
Upon investigation, it was found that these individuals were illegal immigrants without proper documentation to enter Thailand. Seven suspects were taken into custody. In some cases, officers were shocked to find that some individuals were living comfortably together in a rental house.
Initial inspections revealed that four of the suspects were illegal immigrants. One was found to be working without a work permit, while the others had entered and stayed in Thailand illegally. They were all handed over to the relevant authorities for deportation.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=–=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Help support The Pattaya News in 2024!
Need medical or travel insurance for your trip to Thailand? We can help!
