Pattaya Tourist Police rounded up 15 Cambodian women who allegedly brought young children to Pattaya to boost their fortunes as beggars.
Lt. Col. Arun Promphan announced the capture of the 15 illegal aliens and 16 children between the ages of 1 and 16. Operating along Second Road, the organized gang of female beggars either held small children to elicit pity or sent young and teen kids to beg on their own.
Arun said the gang members confessed to sneaking into Thailand through the Srakaew border and have been working throughout Pattaya. He added that investigators are uncertain all the children belong to the women and that police suspect a Thai broker is helping them enter the country illegally.
