“Passports for sale” billboard prompts clampdown

[webfact]

The Labour Ministry’s employment department has been ordered to conduct inspections in various areas nationwide, especially in industrial parks, to check for advertising billboards offering foreign passports for sale, similar to the one found in Bangkok.

 

Phumiphat Mueanchan, the Labour Ministry’s spokesman, said today that, if such billboards are found, they must be taken down and those involved will face prosecution.

 

The spokesperson was referring to a billboard seen at the busy Din Daeng intersection, offering passports from various countries for sale.

 

The Din Daeng and nearby Huai Kwang areas have been described as Bangkok’s “new China town”, due to the increasing number of Chinese there.

 

The messages on the billboard, in Chinese, also mentioned that the service was for those seeking a second nationality.

 

FUll story: Thai PBS 2024-07-25

 

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[DonniePeverley]

Who would ever have guessed that PM's panic stricken decision to allow Chinese to enter without any restrictions would see mass criminal activity. 

 

I for one am absolutely shaken to the chore and so surprised. 

 

Infact i am so shocked i am suprised by my shock state. 

 

No one could EVER have forseen this. 

 

Shocking that the Chinese would take advantage of a state that is mass filled with tourists. 

 

Just can't believe it. 

 

Go Srettha. 

[stoner]

7 minutes ago, DonniePeverley said:

Who would ever have guessed that PM's panic stricken decision to allow Chinese to enter without any restrictions would see mass criminal activity. 

 

I for one am absolutely shaken to the chore and so surprised. 

 

Infact i am so shocked i am suprised by my shock state. 

 

No one could EVER have forseen this. 

 

Shocking that the Chinese would take advantage of a state that is mass filled with tourists. 

 

Just can't believe it. 

 

Go Srettha. 

 

sounds like you could use a hug. 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Din Daeng and nearby Huai Kwang areas have been described as Bangkok’s “new China town”, due to the increasing number of Chinese there

You open the door people will come in..

[khunjeff]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

the Labour Ministry’s spokesman, said today that, if such billboards are found, they must be taken down and those involved will face prosecution.

 

Prosecution on what legal basis, exactly? So far, every official has stated that the content of the billboard was not illegal - the only issues were that the Chinese person who arranged it didn't have a work permit, and the building owner didn't have the right license to put up advertising. And why is the Labor Ministry involved in policing foreigners obtaining passports - legally - from third countries?

[Dr B]

24 minutes ago, khunjeff said:

 

Prosecution on what legal basis, exactly? So far, every official has stated that the content of the billboard was not illegal - the only issues were that the Chinese person who arranged it didn't have a work permit, and the building owner didn't have the right license to put up advertising. And why is the Labor Ministry involved in policing foreigners obtaining passports - legally - from third countries?

If you check the Vanautu website, as one example, a passport is available for an "investment" of $130,000, or CNY 950,000. If he billboard offers them for CNY 70,000, are you sure that they are legal?

[Srikcir]

"The messages on the billboard, in Chinese, also mentioned that the service was for those seeking a second nationality."

Is it illegal to apply for Thai residency that provides for a Thai passport? Highly unlikely a Chinese visitor can obtain Thai nationality but the advertiser will benefit financially. If no guarantee of Thai passport, let buyer beware but illegal? Maybe as false advertising, but not so simple as illegal.

Note that the advertiser is not Chinese but a Singaporean firm, perhaps furthering a deception. 

[mokwit]

1 hour ago, Dr B said:

If you check the Vanautu website, as one example, a passport is available for an "investment" of $130,000, or CNY 950,000. If he billboard offers them for CNY 70,000, are you sure that they are legal?

As I said before, suspect the same deal as the recently busted Russian was offering. Not genuine but will pass muster in most circumstances.

[ignore it]

Yeah

 

They ought to get rid of all those ugly anachronistic billboards and the wires too.

 

We should be able to see the urban sprawl uncluttered when we lift our eyes from our advert dripping smartphones.

[khunjeff]

4 hours ago, Dr B said:

If you check the Vanautu website, as one example, a passport is available for an "investment" of $130,000, or CNY 950,000. If he billboard offers them for CNY 70,000, are you sure that they are legal?

 

I personally have no opinion at all about their legality - I was just referring to what Thai officials have already said: 

 

"Pol Maj-Gen Panthana Nutchanart, the deputy commissioner of the Immigration Bureau, stated that the advertisement is not illegal since it does not offer Thai passports. He remarked that the sale of foreign passports is a common practice in several countries."