PATTAYA — A Swedish tourist was detained in Pattaya on Saturday night for illegally operating a drone on the beach during Thailand’s nationwide drone ban, authorities said.
Pattaya Special Affairs officers arrested the 28-year-old man, identified only as Mr. Neck, at 10 p.m. on August 3 while he was using the unmanned aircraft to photograph Pattaya Beach in Chonburi Province.
Speaking through a translator during questioning, the tourist said he had just arrived in Pattaya for vacation and wanted to capture scenic photos of the beach and ocean. He claimed to be unaware of the temporary drone prohibition currently in effect across Thailand.
The ban, implemented by the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), prohibits all drone flights nationwide from July 30 through August 15, 2025, or until further notice. Officials cited national security concerns and tensions along the Thai-Cambodian border as reasons for the restriction.
After confiscating the drone, officers transferred the tourist to Pattaya City Police Station for processing. He was later released with a warning after being informed about the regulations.
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