Pattaya, Chonburi – February 20th, 2026 – A Cambodian woman carrying a newborn baby and accompanied by a young child was spotted begging from foreign tourists in one of Pattaya’s busiest tourist areas, despite having been arrested and deported at least twice before, bringing concern from local residents who have told The Pattaya News reporters that this is a growing problem.
The incident occurred around 9:30 p.m. on February 19th, 2026, along Beach Road and Pattaya Second Road. Local residents alerted journalists after noticing the woman sitting on the sidewalk in a crowded nightlife zone, holding an infant estimated to be 2–3 months old while a child aged approximately 5–7 years sat nearby. The group was selling candy to passersby while soliciting donations, a tactic that appears designed to evoke sympathy from tourists.
Upon approaching the woman for questioning, she admitted to having been apprehended and repatriated to Cambodia on at least two previous occasions. She claimed to have re-entered Thailand illegally through natural border crossings and traveled by van to Pattaya during periods when checkpoints were less active. The woman stated she has three children in total and resorted to begging to support her family financially.
Journalists observed that several other foreign individuals in the vicinity fled immediately upon noticing the media presence, scooping up children and disappearing into the night, an indication of efforts to evade official scrutiny.
Local sources described the issue as recurrent, with groups of undocumented foreign nationals, primarily from Cambodia, repeatedly returning to beg in Pattaya’s prime tourist zones even after crackdowns, arrests, and deportations by authorities. Despite periodic enforcement operations by immigration police, tourist police, and local officials, the problem persists, negatively affecting the city’s international image.
Residents and business operators in the area have urged relevant agencies to implement more sustained and coordinated measures. These should include stricter border controls to prevent illegal re-entry, enhanced child protection efforts to prevent the exploitation of minors in begging activities, and better regulation of public spaces in tourist hubs to preserve Pattaya’s reputation as a safe and welcoming destination.
The matter isn’t just restricted to foreign nationals as many Thai nationals also beg and are homeless in the Pattaya area, with local residents saying better social support and rehabilitation and rehousing programs should be provided for Thai citizens in these circumstances. Homeless people with mental health issues have often caused various issues, like this one on Pattaya Beach recently, and residents say there should be better public mental health services and support for these people.
Relevant authorities have not yet commented on any immediate follow-up action in this specific instance.
