Police wrestled with a Nigerian tourist who allegedly entered Thailand illegally.

Solomon Obinna Ekwonye, 52, was said to have travelled to Thailand through a natural border with Malaysia in the south of the country. He evaded police checkpoints and boarded a train to the capital Bangkok before going to Pattaya City.

Immigration officers arrested the alleged illegal immigrant after he was reported by villagers for not possessing a valid passport.

They traced his whereabouts to a luxury condominium in the Thai 'Sin City', where they arrested him on February 22.

Footage shows police confronting Solomon as he was returning to his room. The bungling tourist swung around trying to escape, but tripped on the kerb immediately.

Police Colonel Napatpong Kositsuriyamanee, superintendent of the provincial immigration office, said: ‘The arrest was carried out following reports that the suspect did not have a passport. Officers observed him in front of the condo, and he could not produce proper travel documents when questioned.

'He has been charged for illegally entering Thailand and staying in the country without permission.'

Solomon said he travelled to Thailand because the income was better. He is set to be deported back to Nigeria.

Former fishing village Pattaya became popular with American troops on 'rest and relaxation' breaks in the 1960s when the U.S. military had bases in Thailand. In the ensuing years, the coastal resort spawned into a semi-barbarous sex-tourism hellscape.

Embarrassed officials have made progress in gentrifying the region with family tourism projects but a ravenous nightlife industry and corrupt police have hampered their efforts, with undesirables from all nations still attracted to the seedy city.