PATTAYA, Thailand – December 5th, 2025 – A large-scale joint operation involving multiple government agencies swept through central Pattaya on Thursday evening to remove beggars, homeless individuals, and foreign nationals illegally using young children to solicit money from tourists.
The operation began at 6:30 p.m. on December 4th, led by Pattaya Deputy Mayor Damrongkiat Pinijkarn, alongside Banglamung District Deputy Chief Natthaphop Yomjinda, officers from Pattaya Police Station, Chonburi Immigration Police, social welfare officials from Pattaya City Hall, and staff from the Chonburi Provincial Centre for Protection and Quality of Life Development (Ministry of Social Development and Human Security).
Teams were deployed across high-risk areas and locations that had received repeated complaints from residents and business operators, particularly Walking Street, Beach Road footpaths, and nearby entertainment zones where tourists congregate in large numbers.
Authorities said the primary targets were individuals – mostly Cambodian nationals – who illegally enter Thailand and engage in street begging, often sitting on sidewalks while holding young children aged approximately 4–7 years to sell flowers or directly ask passers-by for money. Officials described the practice as a persistent nuisance that damages the resort city’s reputation as a safe and orderly international tourist destination.
During the operation, several women carrying young children and a number of other beggars were taken into custody. All were found to have entered Thailand unlawfully. They were brought to Pattaya Police Station for identity checks and formal records before being handed over to investigators for prosecution under immigration and related laws and to be deported.
Pattaya City Administration stressed that the intensified enforcement is part of a broader campaign to enhance public safety, maintain order, and restore the city’s image as a clean, attractive, and tourist-friendly destination ahead of the peak holiday season.
Similar joint operations are expected to continue in the coming weeks, officials said.
