SURAT THANI: Seventeen foreign nationals and a Thai have been arrested for working illegally and other immigration offences during raids this week on three popular tourist islands in this southern province.
Investigators from the Surat Thani immigration office, police and local officials raided sites on Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao after alerted about foreign nationals running unregistered nurseries, working without work permits, overstaying visas and other immigration offences, said Pol Col Naruewat Phutthawiro, chief of the provincial immigration office.
The raids, conducted since Jan 28, led to the arrest of 17 foreigners and a Thai in all, said Pol Col Naruewat.
On Koh Samui, a Briton and a Lao national were arrested at two separate locations. One was charged with overstaying and the other with illegal entry.
On Koh Phangan, 12 foreigners — five Russians, two Ukrainians, five Myanmar nationals — were arrested on charges that included setting up a private school without permission, running a nursery without permission, working illegally and hiring illegal migrants.
On Koh Tao, three Myanmar nationals were arrested on charges of working illegally and a Thai employee was arrested on charges of illegally running a nursery and hiring illegal migrants.
Pol Col Naruewat said the raids were carried out in response to a directive from national police chief Kittharath Punpetch to crack down on foreign nationals entering the country on tourist visas with the intent to work illegally.
Surat Thani Immigration officers subsequently coordinated with related agencies to carry out “Operation X-ray” on the three islands, he said.
