An ongoing crackdown on illegal immigrants dubbed "X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner" has hit another 104 targets, including the RCA night entertainment hub in Bangkok, with 37 people arrested, police said Thursday.
Most of them are now facing charges under immigration law, according to Surachate Hakparn, deputy chief of the tourist police, who led officers to search Royal City Avenue (RCA) early Thursday.
Route 66 and Onyx are the most famous clubs in the area.
Pol Maj Gen Surachate expressed concern that foreigners are resorting to more sophisticated tricks to dupe officers, but added that those who are apprehended due to suspicious behaviour could face legal action even if they hold a valid visa.
"If they are found to be prostitutes, we'll revoke their visas and send them back to their countries," he said.
RCA comprises a strip of pubs and bars between Rama IX Road and Phetchaburi Road that is popular among young Thai, expats and foreign tourists alike.
Police are also checking hotels and schools, he added.
Twelve international schools, 27 Thai schools and nine language tutorial schools were among the 104 targets.
In total, 37 suspects were apprehended, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said. He said 27 had entered Thailand illegally while six others had overstayed their visas. The remaining four "committed other mistakes", he said.
Police are focusing more on schools and universities as some foreigners are known to apply for student visas, which are valid for up to a year, so they can stay in the country longer but they rarely if ever attend classes.
These visas must usually be renewed every 90 days. Tourist visa holders are only granted up to 30 days in Thailand.
Police investigators are worried some foreigners may use the longer visas to hatch illegal plots.
Enrolment to the schools, mainly international institutions, is usually helped by "agents," Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
Some foreign criminals marry Thai women and use the status as a spouse to stay in Thailand, he said.
The wrongdoers are "using more complex methods to live here and avoid inspection from authorities", he added.
Police have therefore stepped up their crackdowns to thwart any ill-intended plots, he said, without elaborating.
In the wake of the latest round of raids, the 25th since the launch of X-Ray Outlaw Foreigner over a year ago, police will now blacklist the 37 suspects and prepare to deport them, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said.
Meanwhile, a Thai man and woman were caught in possession of 10 kilogrammes of marijuana during the inspections, police said. Targeted areas included major tourist hot spots like Pattaya, Phuket, Hat Yai in Songkhla and Chiang Mai.
The two were identified as Phatcharaphon Chanthakanok, 24, and Anuthida Sisawang, 20.
They were released on bail despite having committed a similar crime a year earlier, Pol Maj Gen Surachate said. The pair claimed they had turned to crime once again to raise funds for their initial court case.
- Earlier report: Immigration raids scoop up dozens
- See also: Defence Ministry builds database of all foreigners