Man Arrested for Illegal Pearling in Bangkok Car
Thai police have arrested a 51-year-old man who was illegally offering pearling and penile enlargement services inside his car in Bangkok. The suspect, identified as Pithaya Moon-in, was apprehended following a sting operation organized by the Consumer Protection Police Division (CPPD).
Pol Maj Gen Khongkrit Lertsitthisakul, commander of the CPPD, said the arrest took place on Sunday on Kamphaeng Phet 6 Road in the Chatuchak district. Undercover officers had responded to the suspect’s TikTok advertisements offering sexual enhancement procedures. A plainclothes policeman was in the back seat of the car when the arrest was made.
During the operation, officers seized 189 pearling beads of various shapes—including round, cubic, bean, heart, capsule, and Chinese bun styles—along with anaesthetics, medical tools, and surgical instruments. Authorities believe these items were used to conduct procedures in the suspect’s car.
Pearling, sometimes called genital beading, involves inserting small beads beneath the skin of the penis to enhance friction and sexual pleasure. Medical experts have repeatedly warned that such unregulated procedures can result in serious complications, including infections, scarring, chronic pain, and long-term penile dysfunction.
Pithaya allegedly admitted he was not a licensed medical professional and confessed to performing illegal treatments for profit. He reportedly charged 1,000 baht per pearling bead, 5,000 baht for circumcision, and 10,000 baht for penile enlargement using fillers.
To avoid detection, he offered his services both inside his vehicle and at clients’ residences across Bangkok and surrounding provinces. Authorities are investigating how many patients he treated and whether any suffered medical harm.
Pol Maj Gen Khongkrit emphasized that illegal medical practices pose significant risks to public health and warned the public to avoid unlicensed procedures. The sus
