Chinese Couple Arrested in Phuket for 4-Year Visa Overstay

[webfact]

Picture courtesy: MGR online

 

In a crackdown on illegal foreign residents in Thailand, police have arrested a Chinese couple living in a luxurious villa in Phuket for visa-related offences. The husband overstayed his visa by nearly four years, while his wife illegally entered the country despite being previously barred.

 

Under the directive of Police Lieutenant General Suraphong Thanomjit, the Region 8 police intensified efforts to clamp down on foreigners residing illegally.

 

The couple, identified as Zhongyu Wang, 29, and Chun Chen, 31, were apprehended in a high-end villa in Chalong, Phuket City. Authorities discovered they were living extravagantly, possessing several luxury cars, including a Mercedes-Benz and a Toyota Alphard.

Zhongyu Wang was charged with overstaying his visa by 1,317 days since 22 February 2020. Chun Chen, who was banned from entering Thailand for five years after her departure on 27 November 2024, was found to have re-entered the country illegally through a natural border crossing from Malaysia, avoiding immigration checks.

 

The arrest followed a police investigation into the couple's lifestyle, which aroused suspicion. They appeared to have no legitimate occupation, yet owned luxurious assets and were potentially involved in services catering to Chinese nationals.

 

Both individuals failed to produce valid travel documents upon request. After their arrest, they were charged and taken to Chalong Police Station for legal proceedings, reported MGR online.

 

-- 2025-02-27

 

 

[roo860]

Amateurs, 4 yrs is nothing compared to the Chiang Mai guy's 25yrs.

[flyingtlger]

I have a feeling they'll be back even if they are banned from Thailand.....

[ChipButty]

They wont be operating alone, 

[LivingNThailand]

Not a luxurious villa.  It is about 3 blocks from where I live, same housing estate.  Unless having a pool makes it luxurious?   I've been wondering why there are so many Mercedes driving down the road.   Cars a bit fancy for the rest of us regular folk.  And all the Chinese signs on the outside of the house might have been a clue.  Where is the landlord/owner of the property?

And I think 5 years if overstay from Feb 2020?  

[dddave]

2 hours ago, LivingNThailand said:

Not a luxurious villa.  It is about 3 blocks from where I live, same housing estate.  Unless having a pool makes it luxurious?   I've been wondering why there are so many Mercedes driving down the road.   Cars a bit fancy for the rest of us regular folk.  And all the Chinese signs on the outside of the house might have been a clue.  Where is the landlord/owner of the property?

And I think 5 years if overstay from Feb 2020?  

It's like I have never seen any condo not described as a "Luxury Condo" even if it's a 29 s/m studio.