CHON BURI - Immigration police have revoked the visas of 12 Chinese nationals and permanently blacklisted them following a raid on a luxury pool villa that they say was a base for an illegal online money lending business.
Local police and officers from the Chon Buri Immigration Office raided the villa in tambon Nong Pla Lai in Bang Lamung district on Friday morning. They said the suspects had been based in Dubai before moving to Thailand.
Police pressed charges against the 12 suspects for failing to notify Immigration of their residence in the kingdom and working without permission. Two of them faced an additional charge of overstaying their visas. All were handed over to officers at the Bang Lamung police station.
Pol Maj Gen Chairit Anurit, acting commander of Immigration Division 3, said on Saturday that he has ordered Pol Col Naphasphong Khosittasuriyamanee, chief of the Chon Buri Immigration Office, to revoke the visas of the suspects and permanently ban them from entering Thailand.
The measures are in line with the government’s policy to crack down on Chinese nationals involved in shady businesses both in Thailand and in neighbouring countries, said Pol Maj Gen Chairit.
Mobile phones and other items are seized during the raid on the villa in Chon Buri that was being used by online money lenders. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)
Officers take pictures and gather evidence at the villa where the raid took place. (Photo: Chaiyot Pupattanapong)