Thailand’s Tourist Police have stepped up efforts to improve safety in Pattaya through closer cooperation with embassies, consulates and foreign volunteer networks to tackle nominee businesses, scam gangs and transnational crime.

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On 19 May 2026, Pol Maj Gen Phongsayam Meekhanthong, Deputy Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, spoke after a joint meeting with representatives from embassies, consulates and foreign volunteer networks in Pattaya, Chonburi province. He said the Tourist Police Bureau was advancing proactive measures to protect tourists and strengthen cooperation between government agencies and international partners.

Representatives from several countries attended the meeting, including Finland, the Republic of Korea, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, India, Mongolia and the Russian Federation. Foreign volunteer networks from more than 20 countries based in Pattaya also took part in the discussions.

Pol Maj Gen Phongsayam said the meeting focused on intelligence sharing and coordinated responses to problems involving foreign nationals in key tourist areas. Authorities discussed concerns over illegal nominee business operations, criminal offences, illegal immigration, visa overstays, narcotics networks and online scam gangs operating in Thailand.

Officials said these activities were affecting tourism confidence and public safety. The discussions also covered ways to improve communication channels and strengthen tip-off networks between authorities and foreign communities in Pattaya.

The Tourist Police also stressed the importance of educating tourists and foreign residents about Thai laws and regulations. Particular attention was given to road safety after authorities found ongoing problems involving foreigners driving cars and motorcycles without licences or violating traffic laws.

Police said traffic offences by foreign drivers had become a significant cause of accidents in tourist areas. Campaigns promoting road discipline and legal compliance are expected to continue as part of wider safety measures.

Thaitabloid reported that Pol Maj Gen Phongsayam added that the Tourist Police would continue integrating efforts with all sectors to improve security standards, boost tourist confidence and protect Thailand’s tourism image in the long term.

Picture courtesy of Thaitabloid

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Thaitabloid 20 May 2026

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Is this move aimed at assisting the domestic crime networks (less competition)?

Shouldn't you just target all criminal gangs irrespective of where there from? Sounds like the police report of 6 foreign prostitutes getting arrested on sukhumvit when to reach these foreign women touting their trade must have passed at least 100 thai freelancers doing the same but with no arrests

“Police said traffic offences by foreign drivers had become a significant cause of accidents in tourist areas. Campaigns promoting road discipline and legal compliance are expected to continue as part of wider safety measures.”

Agreed that foreign tourists should comply with local regulations and be properly licensed. And what about the Thai people who rent those motorbikes to tourists who are unlicensed. Any campaign to stop that?

Traffic stops with 500 baht fines and then allowing the people so fined to ride away while committing the exact same offence for which that have just been fined, achieves nothing because that is what they are doing now!

From what we read on ASEAN NOW, it would seem that most of the crime in Pattaya is carried out by home-grown criminals, including predatory gangs of ladyboys targeting foreigners.

So, as noted by others above, the RTP should be focusing their efforts on All crime, and not just a small section of alien offenders!

9 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Is this move aimed at assisting the domestic crime networks (less competition)?

100% correct my friend. Too much competition.