Pattaya: Foreign women nabbed in illegal bar raid
Pattaya’s notorious nightlife took a hit in the early hours of today when police stormed The Wild 69, an entertainment venue in Central Pattaya, uncovering a group of foreign women working without legal permits.
Acting on a late-night tip-off from a concerned citizen, a special task force from Pattaya City Police Station descended on the Bang Lamung-based venue at around 1am, today, March 28. What they found triggered swift arrests.
Inside the venue, officers discovered six women, all foreign nationals from Laos and Cambodia, working as waitresses without the required permits. None could produce valid documentation, leading to immediate legal action.
The bar’s 57 year old owner, identified only as Duanphen, was also arrested after failing to provide any paperwork authorising the employment of the undocumented workers.
“We will not allow violations of the law to go unchecked in a key tourism city like Pattaya,” a Pattaya police spokesperson said. “Anyone found breaking the law will face swift and decisive action, no matter who they are.”
Seven people were arrested in the late-night operation. The foreign nationals now face charges of working in Thailand without permission, while Duanphen has been charged with illegally hiring foreign workers.
The raid was led by a high-level team, including Police Colonel Anek Sarathongyoo, Chief of Pattaya City Police Station, who vowed ongoing crackdowns on illegal employment in nightlife venues across the city.
Officers warned that even non-salaried roles, such as informal or “under-the-table” work, still require a valid work permit.
The incident has reignited scrutiny over how entertainment venues in Pattaya operate and whether foreign workers are being exploited or trafficked under the radar.
Police said The Wild 69 would be investigated further, and its business licence could be revoked pending a full review.
Meanwhile, further inspections are planned for similar venues, with police urging bar owners to ensure full compliance with labour laws, reported The Pattaya News.
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