Phuket’s Immigration officers are cracking down hard on visa overstays.
Immigration officers hauled in four foreign nationals in a high-profile sweep as part of a nationwide effort to stamp out illegal immigration.
In an operation launched on Monday, May 19, Phuket Immigration, in coordination with local agencies, arrested four men who had overstayed their legal permission to remain in Thailand.
The arrests form part of a broader campaign directed by senior immigration officials targeting foreigners flouting immigration laws across the country.
Those caught in the net include two Nigerian nationals, a 43 year old Icelandic man, and an Italian. Among them, the most egregious violator was “Wisdom,” a Nigerian who overstayed by a staggering 761 days.
Another Nigerian, Izuchukwu, was found to have overstayed by 33 days. Davide, an Italian national, had overstayed by 236 days, while Eireannach from Iceland, overstayed by 15 days.
The arrests are part of a wider policy aimed at curbing foreign-related crimes, including illegal employment under the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers 2018 and unauthorised business activities under the Foreign Business Act 1999.
Phuket Immigration Chief Police Colonel Kriangkrai Ariyaying stressed the department’s commitment to ensuring the province remains a safe and reputable destination for both locals and tourists.
Source: The Thaiger