16 foreign women arrested in Sukhumvit prostitution crackdown

2026-03-21 - 04:50

BANGKOK — 20 March 2026, Police and social development officials have arrested 16 foreign women accused of soliciting prostitution in a crackdown in Bangkok’s Sukhumvit area, authorities said. The operation took place at about 20:30 in Sukhumvit Soi 4, Khlong Toei district, following complaints from foreign tourists and reports on social media. Officers from Lumpini Police Station, together with investigation units, Metropolitan Police Bureau teams, immigration officers and officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, conducted surveillance before moving in to make arrests. Authorities said 16 suspects were detained, comprising 10 Tanzanian nationals, five Kenyan nationals and one Vietnamese national. They were charged under Section 5 of the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act for soliciting or approaching individuals in public places for the purpose of prostitution in a manner deemed open and causing public nuisance. Officials from the Department of Women’s Affairs and Family Development will impose administrative fines before transferring the suspects to Immigration Bureau officers. Their visas will be revoked and they will be deported under Section 12(8) of the Immigration Act. All suspects have been sent to the Immigration Bureau headquarters in Suan Phlu for further legal proceedings.