Police in Bangkok arrested six foreign women in the Sukhumvit area on May 7, following community complaints and viral social media posts. The operation targeted suspected prostitution activities, leading to the apprehension of five Vietnamese and one Uzbek national. The arrests occurred on Soi Sukhumvit 4, where police observed the women allegedly soliciting clients publicly.

Get today's headlines by email

This action stems from increasing resident concerns about the area's reputation among tourists. The women face charges under Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, with penalties including fines up to 1,000 baht. While police confirmed the legal charges, they did not disclose if deportation proceedings would follow.

This operation is part of a broader crackdown on foreign sex workers in Thailand's tourist hubs. A previous raid in March in the same area resulted in the arrests of 16 women from various African and Asian countries. Likewise, a recent operation in Pattaya detained several foreign nationals for similar offences.

Authorities aim to maintain public order and improve the tourist image of these locations. Moving forward, police likely intend to continue such actions to deter illegal activities and uphold local laws.

Join the discussion?

Already a member?

  Adapted by ASEAN Now · The Thaiger · 11 May 2026

View full article

Is it only foreign women doing this? 😅

Mr Traffic Police could do with a Wide Load sign.

But theVietnamese look pretty much the same as Thai.

Well there goes my chance at love.

Go near the entrance of the Thermae Bar in Bangkok Nana area. It's packed with illegal freelancers engaging in prostitution with all the korean, japanese or chinese customer.

1 minute ago, Sigmund said:

Go near the entrance of the Thermae Bar in Bangkok Nana area. It's packed with illegal freelancers engaging in prostitution with all the korean, japanese or chinese customer.

Thermae has been there for 30 years and never once have I seen a non Thai girl anywhere near the place.

27 minutes ago, blaze master said:

Well there goes my chance at love.

Yeah, but its rainy season. They have to clean it up periodically.

The Viet girls are sketchy, I had my only hooker pickpocket session with one I snagged in front of whats now Le Maison Hotel and shorttimed in the old Third Floor Nana Hotel (remember that before the roof was put on). Fabulous memory, dropped her drawers right there by the desk and pulled 1000 bahters out of her panties.

ProTip: When you play in BKK, note that Viet girls are the most likely to steal from you.`

Deport them as we don't want those types putting bad ideas in Thai ladies heads.

2 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Is it only foreign women doing this? 😅

No, plenty of Thai women as well. This action was focusing on the foreign women.

5 hours ago, Yagoda said:

ProTip: When you play in BKK, note that Viet girls are the most likely to steal from you.`

in Viet Nam, the ladies steal your hearts!

6 minutes ago, BayArea said:

in Viet Nam, the ladies steal your hearts!

I dont go. They are Frenchified Chinese, bad combo

Looks like it is a protected occupation...

These ladies should know that’s a protective profession in Thailand TIT

27 minutes ago, technoronin said:

Looks like it is a protected occupation...

18 minutes ago, TheFishman1 said:

These ladies should know that’s a protective profession in Thailand TIT

It's only "protected" like any other type of work that foreigners are prohibited from doing.

This action stems from increasing resident concerns about the area's reputation among tourists. The women face charges under Thailand’s Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act, with penalties including fines up to 1,000 baht.

So... It's 2000 baht to toss a cigarette butt, and just 1000 baht to peddle flesh.

15 hours ago, Watawattana said:

Is it only foreign women doing this? 😅

Remember. No alien can do the job of a Thai!!!!😏😏😏😏5555

Their only crime is not being Thai.

And it always cracks me up when someone says they are concerned something will damage the reputation of Pattaya / Phuket / Sukhumvit / Soi Cowboy / Nana / etc.

1 minute ago, Front Row said:

Their only crime is not being Thai.

And it always cracks me up when someone says they are concerned something will damage the reputation of Pattaya / Phuket / Sukhumvit / Soi Cowboy / Nana / etc.

No, their crime is soliciting for the purposes of prostitution!

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This action stems from increasing resident concerns about the area's reputation among tourists.

Right. Because so many tourists come to Sukhumvit Soi 4 for quality museum time. The reuptation is exactly why they come... and as far as foreign hookers go, the Viets are pretty mild - it's the Africans that are aggressive and annoying and sometimes a danger when they're on drugs. Ship 'em all back home!

No, their crime is soliciting for the purposes of prostitution!

If there was no flesh peddling, those areas would become ghost towns.

32 minutes ago, brewsterbudgen said:

No, their crime is soliciting for the purposes of prostitution!

I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties.

16 hours ago, Packer said:

Mr Traffic Police could do with a Wide Load sign.

On the bright side, we all know he wouldn't get trafficked...

Doesn't take Inspector Clouseau to see a hugely obese black woman, who stinks to high heaven, pulling up on men on suk soi 7, to determine they are illegal prostitutes.

They should really arrest the guys that take these stinky elephants.

16 hours ago, Sigmund said:

Go near the entrance of the Thermae Bar in Bangkok Nana area. It's packed with illegal freelancers engaging in prostitution with all the korean, japanese or chinese customer.

They are ladyboys who are not allowed in Thermae.

1 hour ago, Front Row said:

I bet you’re a lot of fun at parties.

I am. I was just referring to the reason they were arrested, not whether I agree with it!

Bloody typical I just booked a week in Dynasty and they clean the streets

18 hours ago, Packer said:

Mr Traffic Police could do with a Wide Load sign.

A friend of mine is so addicted to Thailand that he frequently say that Thailand is the word's bordello.

Edited May 12May 12 by Look Chang

11 hours ago, Yagoda said:

I dont go. They are Frenchified Chinese, bad combo

I had a 10 days holiday in HCMC just before Covid. I had a ball there, absolutely great people. When I was asked where I originally came from I told them Melbourne Australia. Several lit up and replied that I must know their family members who migrated to Australia. I kept to the rules as her indoors was with me.

3 hours ago, impulse said:

So... It's 2000 baht to toss a cigarette butt, and just 1000 baht to peddle flesh.

Butts can cause fires and climate change