Police Find Sex Workers in Rangsit Village after Fresh Sweep
Police arrested two women engaged in sex work during a sweep of Rangsit Railway area in Pathum Thani, with officers noting most workers have dispersed following recent enforcement operations and social media coverage.
Officers from Pathum Thani's social development office and administrative staff from Thanyaburi District met with police on August 20 to discuss solutions to the ongoing sex work issue in the area. Aree Rat Nueadompong, a senior social development officer and head of Pathum Thani's social development group, led a team of over 30 officers from Pratu Nam Chulalongkorn Police Station to sweep the Rattanakosin 200 Year Village area and the Rangsit Railway siding.
During the inspection, officers spotted one woman who fled immediately when she saw them approaching. In the railway area, they found two women sitting together and questioned them. Both admitted they regularly gather there for sex work, earning 300–400 baht per customer on average, though some nights they earn nothing. One woman explained she came from another province and now lives in Pathum Thani, working primarily in waste collection with sex work at night to support herself and her child after separating from her husband.
Rider groups waiting for work nearby reported that groups of about 10 women typically congregate in the area nearly every night. However, following recent enforcement sweeps and social media attention, most of the women have largely disappeared from the area. The riders noted the women have never caused any problems for local residents. Police took initial statements from both women and are cross-referencing them with related cases.
