Seven Africans held in Bangkok immigration raid

Tourist Police have arrested seven foreign men in Bangkok's Khlong Sam Wa district after checks allegedly found four had overstayed their permission to remain and three had no travel or identity records.

The operation took place on 14 July 2026 on Pracha Ruam Chai Road, in front of The One Cargo Co Ltd in Sai Kong Din Tai subdistrict. The men - six Nigerians and one Senegalese national - were taken to Min Buri Police Station for legal proceedings.

Four allegedly overstayed by hundreds of days

Police said the four men accused of overstaying had remained in Thailand beyond their permitted dates by between 782 and 1,052 days.

They were named as Senegalese national Christian Tounkara, 33, accused of overstaying by 913 days; Nigerian national Monday Akachukwu Anikpe, 28, by 856 days; Chineze Emmanuel Onyechere, 45, by 1,052 days; and Mazi Ejiofor Edochie, 45, by 782 days.

All four were charged with being foreign nationals staying in the Kingdom after their permission had expired.

The other three men, all Nigerian nationals, were identified as Emeka Frank Uzoije, 42; Emmanuel Kelechi Ewulu, 33; and Ikechkuwu Prince Umunna, 47. Police said checks found no personal identification documents or records of their entry to Thailand, and charged them with entering and staying in the Kingdom without permission.

Checks followed intelligence gathering

Tourist Police commissioner Lieutenant General Saksira Pheuk-um said the operation followed government policy and instructions from national police chief Police General Kittirat Phanphet to speed up checks on foreigners living in Thailand unlawfully.

Investigators had received information that a group of foreign nationals was staying in Khlong Sam Wa without apparent work or a fixed address. Officers then mounted the operation under the Tourist Police Division 1 command.

Colonel Piyapong Ensarn, superintendent of Tourist Police Division 1's Sub-Division 1, said police were instructed to investigate and arrest foreign nationals suspected of breaking the law, including people who might use Thailand as a base for offences.

He said the wider focus included offences against property, life and physical safety, as well as romance scams, fraud and exploitation of residents or tourists. Police did not allege that the seven men arrested in this case were involved in such offences.

Tourist Police said they would intensify checks of foreign nationals, particularly where officers have grounds to investigate. Foreigners who move address, change visa status or use agents for immigration applications should ensure their records and documents remain in order.

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16 July 2026