Police cracked down on sex workers as a one-year mourning period began for Thailand's late queen mother.

Officers raided 12 party venues suspected to be illegal drug hubs across Bangkok on Tuesday amid government orders to tone down festivities.

Footage shows cops sweeping through a condo room, where they found a female sex worker allegedly hoarding narcotics.

Police Major General Chotiwat Luangwilai, commander of the Metropolitan Police Bureau's Investigation, said they arrested three hostesses Nicharat, 24, Sireethorn, 27, and Natwarakorn, 27, and five male hosts Piti, 20, Sitsira, 31, Alongkorn, 37, Setthawut, 44, and Saksiri, 30.

The suspects were reportedly drug distributors selling contraband to tourists in Bangkok's nightclubs.

Authorities said they seized 'a large quantity' of drugs including methamphetamine pills, crystal meth, ecstasy, cocaine, and ketamine, as well as motorcycles and bankbooks allegedly used in the drug trafficking operations.

The police chief said: 'Following the expanded investigation after the arrests, we found that many members of the network sold drugs in entertainment venues, enabling widespread distribution.

‘We would like to announce and warn that the Royal Thai Police will apply strict measures to suppress narcotics and will continue to expand our investigation thoroughly.'

The death of Queen Sirikit was announced on Saturday, triggering a one-year mourning period, with Thais ordered to wear black until the end of January.

Though there were no direct orders to ban public activities, event organisers were urged to 'exercise discretion and adjust event formats appropriately' to reflect the national mourning period.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said in a statement: 'The Government understands many in the entertainment, tourism, and hospitality sectors may have planned activities and events in advance. Businesses are therefore advised to proceed with sensitivity and make suitable adjustments to ensure decorum and to honour Her Majesty's memory.'

Sex workers in Bangkok's rowdy red-light districts were subdued as they tried to comply with the directive, wearing skimpy all-black outfits while calling out to passing tourists.

There was an identical diktat when the country's former monarch, King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or King Rama 9, died nine years ago in October 2016. Sex workers were also decked out in black dresses back then.

Thailand's Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ydeclared a year-long mourning period for government officials and asked the public to wear black or dark colours for at least 90 days. Schools have also been instructed to cancel any celebrations for the next year.

Ministers even pressured K-pop group Blackpink to change their concerts to 'avoid fireworks, reduce the volume and use more subdued colours'.

However, some critics argue that the measures are antiquated and incompatible with the country's modern tourism industry and ever-increasing calls for reform of the monarchy.

Commentator Pravit Rojanaphruk said: ​'If someone wants to cry and mourn, go right ahead, I fully respect their rights and they have my empathy, but don't force others who might not be emotionally invested to feel sad or mourn the passing of HM Queen Sirikit, The Queen Mother, too.

'We are not living in the era of absolute monarchy or the Joseon Dynasty, like in a Korean K-drama. It's 2025, and we are in an era where many countries can send spacecraft into outer space, and don't even have a monarchy.'