Kuwaiti Tourists Allege Extortion by Pattaya Police
A group of Kuwaiti tourists in Pattaya alleged they were repeatedly detained and extorted by police officers who demanded cash-only fines in secluded locations and rejected official receipts as counterfeit.
On July 15, 2025, reporters received complaints from a group of Kuwaiti tourists aged 20–30 who said that over the past month they have been repeatedly detained by uniformed police officers in Pattaya for alleged traffic violations. While the tourists acknowledged some traffic infractions and were willing to accept legal consequences, they grew suspicious of what they believed was extortion when officers rejected their official receipts as counterfeit, repeatedly fined them at rates between 3,500 and 5,000 baht per incident, and insisted on cash-only payments in secluded locations.
The tourists reported being stopped 2–5 times per night, with the same officers returning night after night. When they requested to pay fines at their hotel or an official impound lot, officers refused and demanded immediate cash payment. Those who questioned the receipts were told they were fake, and officers allegedly charged an additional 500 baht for a proper receipt that would then be rejected as counterfeit by other officials.
In one incident, after a minor motorcycle accident, the same officers who had previously fined them detained them again and issued a comparable fine without clarity on the alleged violation. The tourists expressed dismay that they now fear police more than criminals and worry about Pattaya's image as a tourist destination. They provided video recordings and receipts to news outlets and called on police commanders to investigate, warning that such practices damage Thailand's reputation and discourage future visitors.
