Police in Pattaya have arrested two Indian men accused of trafficking three Indian women and forcing them into prostitution along Pattaya Beach, Chon Buri. The suspects allegedly blackmailed the women with explicit photographs and deprived them of food and water if they refused to comply. Both men deny the charges.

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On 28 February 2026, Pol Col Anek Sarathongyu, superintendent of Pattaya City Police Station, and Pol Lt Col Arut Sapanon, deputy superintendent of investigations, led officers to arrest the suspects at a room in Pattaya. Police seized three mobile phones, a tablet and a laptop computer as evidence. The suspects were identified as Mr Brahmananda, 25, and Mr Justin, 32, both Indian nationals.

The case stems from a complaint filed on 18 February by three Indian women with Pol Lt Kriengkrai Kaewphiphop, deputy inspector (investigation). The women told police they had been contacted via Instagram and offered restaurant jobs in Thailand, with high pay and travel expenses covered. Upon arrival in Pattaya, they were allegedly asked for additional payments, had their passports confiscated and were cut off from outside contact.

The victims stated they were confined to a room and prevented from contacting anyone. They were then allegedly forced to stand for prostitution daily along Pattaya Beach. If they refused, they were threatened, deprived of food, and photographed in compromising positions to be used for blackmail, with threats to send the images to their families or harm relatives if they attempted to escape.

The women eventually managed to escape by asking for their passports under the pretext of booking a hotel room with a client. They fled and sought help at an Indian restaurant in the area before filing a police report.

Investigators coordinated with the Chon Buri Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office to assess the victims. Authorities determined the case met the criteria for human trafficking, under Thai law and placed the women under legal protection.

Police say they gathered witness testimony and physical evidence linking the suspects to the offences. The charges include joint human trafficking, unlawful detention, coercion, criminal intimidation, destruction or seizure of another person’s documents, procuring for prostitution and importing false computer data likely to cause public harm.

The suspects have denied all allegations, claiming they were merely customers. Police stated that both testimonial and material evidence clearly connects the men to the offences and that legal proceedings will continue. Investigators are expected to proceed with prosecution while ensuring ongoing protection and support for the victims under Thai law.

Picture courtesy of เช็กข่าวพัทยา

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Adapted by ASEAN Now เช็กข่าวพัทยา 1 Mar 2026

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And with visa exempt, we welcome new levels of criminal behavior!

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

5 minutes ago, sungod said:

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

You sound like a disappointed shopper. What else is on offer "around Nana"?

Off topic post removed @mikebell

2 hours ago, sungod said:

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

Did they let you haggle down the prices?

Were you able to put on your Rolex while chewing gum at the same time?

24 minutes ago, save the frogs said:

Were you able to put on your Rolex while chewing gum at the same time?

Absolutely, all with a hard on at the same time

2 hours ago, sungod said:

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

Been going on for years

17 minutes ago, roo860 said:

Been going on for years

with the Thais and Cambodians yes, but they are all Indian now

Just now, sungod said:

with the Thais and Cambodians yes, but they are all Indian now

30 yrs ago Indians were selling them Massalla mixtures and watches

1 hour ago, roo860 said:

30 yrs ago Indians were selling them Massalla mixtures and watches

Thai Indians, as they own that end of town.

Now it’s Indian Indians who have cleared up with viagra and cigarettes too.

Troll post from the usual suspect has been removed

10 hours ago, sungod said:

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

You sure they are Indian?

1 hour ago, Liverpool Lou said:

You sure they are Indian?

Good question. Used to live in Pratunam and Indra Square was full of "Indian" sellers. But when talking to them I found out they weren't Indian at all. They were Sri Lankan, Bangladeshi, Nepali...

But overall, I know what you mean. Ao Nang in Krabi used to have Thai sellers, restaurant staff, etc. You can't see a single non-Indian face now. Drove through Pattaya not long ago... that 2nd? road, behind Central (with Hilton on top) looks like a bit cleaner version of Mumbai. But signs and people look all the same.

There surely has been a massive influx of South Asians. But that was before the visa exempt started already, not just now.

21 hours ago, sungod said:

I was around Nana the other night. Viagra, cigarettes, Rolex watches, chewing gum, all provided by Indian hawkers….

I guess they were claiming all the corner positions!

21 hours ago, sungod said:

Thai Indians, as they own that end of town.

The Thai Indians owning a lot of the property around there are not going to be hawking snide Rolexes!

Of course not Einstein, but I said they own that end of town, IE everything from property to all types of business…..

Now trot on….

Forget the indians. They need to arrest all those white guys doing sex videos with Thais and going on cam sites, because they can't afford to live in Asia. That's where the real trafficking is.

Be a brave man to take one of these 3 indian woman pictured unless there for indians.