PATTAYA, Thailand – On May 19th, 2025, at 10:30 PM, Pattaya City Police, under the direction of Pol. Col. Anek Sathongyoo, Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, conducted a targeted patrol along Pattaya Beach. The operation, led by Pol. Maj. Siriwat Kachamat, Deputy Superintendent, and Pol. Maj. Suchart Dusadee, Inspector, involved police patrol units and a special operations team.
Their mission was to record the personal details and check the criminal history of Thai women and transgender individuals (known locally as “ladyboys”) loitering along the beachfront to prevent crimes against tourists.
This also followed an incident between several Israeli tourists and a transgender woman that went viral on social media yesterday involving a video showing multiple Israeli men being chased across Pattaya Beach Road by transgender individuals, but the two events were not specifically linked by police. That particular incident, sparked allegedly by a dispute over payment for services involving companionship, was later reportedly resolved through private mediation between police and the parties involved.
The initiative does follow in general, however, multiple recent incidents where transgender individuals clashed with foreign tourists on Pattaya Beach, tarnishing the city’s tourism image. Police aimed to create a database of individuals that loiter often on the beach to deter potential criminal activities, such as assaults on visitors.
During the 5-kilometer sweep from North Pattaya Beach to South Pattaya Beach, officers encountered numerous Thai women and transgender individuals, aged approximately 20 to 40, speaking with foreign tourists or loitering against trees. Upon spotting police, many fled onto the sandy beach or across nearby roads. Officers used loudspeakers to clarify that they were not arresting or fining anyone but sought cooperation to record personal details for crime prevention purposes.
While some individuals voluntarily agreed to be escorted to Pattaya City Police Station for profiling, only a small number complied. Those who provided their details were released afterward. The operation reflects ongoing efforts by Pattaya authorities to enhance tourist safety and maintain the city’s reputation as a premier travel destination.
Pattaya Beach often sees hundreds of women and transgender individuals loitering at night, notes The Pattaya News, although any specific reason for loitering is often not addressed directly by relevant authorities.
