Seven Vietnamese women arrested in Bangkok are facing deportation after police detained them during a crackdown on alleged street prostitution along the capital’s busy Sukhumvit Road.
The seven women were arrested at approximately 8pm on Friday, 30 October, during a joint operation involving officers from Lumpini Police Station, the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, and the Immigration Bureau.
According to Thai media outlet MGR Online, the arrests took place along Sukhumvit Road, between Soi 4 and Soi 11.
Complaints Lead to Seven Vietnamese Women Arrested in Bangkok
The operation followed complaints from members of the public about a group of foreign women allegedly standing along the street and approaching passers-by to offer sexual services.
Authorities also received reports that some of the women were following pedestrians and repeatedly pestering people walking through the area.
Police said the alleged behaviour had caused inconvenience to members of the public and tourists, while potentially damaging Thailand’s tourism image.
Vietnamese Women Arrested in Bangkok Face Deportation
Following their arrests, officials from the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security processed the women under the relevant legislation and imposed fines.
Immigration officers subsequently invoked Section 12(8) of Thailand’s Immigration Act B.E. 2522 (1979) to revoke their permission to remain in the country.
All seven Vietnamese women arrested in Bangkok are being processed for deportation and will be added to Thailand’s immigration blacklist, preventing them from legally returning to the country.
Charges Under Thailand’s Prostitution Laws
The women were also charged under Section 5 of the Prevention and Suppression of Prostitution Act 1996.
The legislation covers openly approaching, soliciting, following or persistently pestering people in public places for the purpose of prostitution, where the behaviour causes embarrassment or public nuisance.
The seven women were taken to the Immigration Bureau’s Suan Phlu facility for further immigration processing ahead of their removal from Thailand.
The operation highlights the authorities’ continued efforts to tackle complaints involving street solicitation in Bangkok’s busy tourist and nightlife districts.
Source: MGR Online.
