Phuket Increases Scrutiny on Foreigners Amid Crime Wave

[webfact]

Phuket Police photo via Bangkok Post

 

In response to a rise in drug-related crimes and illegal work activities, Phuket has intensified its immigration controls and enforcement measures. Working closely with international consulates, the province is focusing on tighter screening processes and visa regulations to manage the growing number of foreign visitors and residents.

 

Last year, Phuket saw 194 foreigners lose their visas, with 998 facing deportation due to various offences, primarily drug-related and illegal employment, according to Pol Col Kriangkrai Ariyaying, the head of Phuket's immigration police.

 

To bolster this effort, the immigration office now conducts bi-monthly meetings with consular officials, ensuring that all new arrivals have no active arrest warrants, appear on no blacklists, and possess sufficient funds and a defined itinerary.

 

Once in Phuket, foreigners are subject to stricter verification processes concerning their accommodation and are closely monitored for any unauthorized employment.

A recurrent issue has been foreigners illegally working as tour guides. Pol Col Kriangkrai warns that those caught violating these laws will face arrest and deportation, with potential lifetime bans from re-entering Thailand.

 

The local community is encouraged to aid police in identifying and reporting any criminal activities involving foreigners.

 

In January alone, Phuket welcomed 800,000 foreign tourists; long-term visa holders number around 36,000, many being business operators, students, or retirees. Muang district remains a popular area for such residents, predominantly Russians.

 

January also saw the detention of four foreigners wanted internationally, highlighting Phuket's role as a sanctuary for fugitives. Furthermore, 34 tourist visas were revoked during this period for legal breaches.

 

Tourists are advised to use the Thailand tourist police mobile app, which is available in six languages and provides immediate assistance when needed, explained Pol Col Phisit Sawatthawon from the Tourist Police Division.

 

Phuket's provincial police have also set up a dedicated centre to support tourists, focusing on common issues such as road accidents, reported Bangkok Post.

 

-- 2025-03-03

 

 

[JimHuaHin]

Well Thailand, you let anyone in, what do you expect?

 

One of the consequences of a money-grabbing tourism campaign.

[Joe32]

Many foreigners are tourist guides? What do they define as a tourist guide? 

If you have family or friends over, and show them around, will you get in trouble already? 

[ChipButty]

Many foreigners are Real Estate agents

[ronster]

As usual it's a bit too late !

[Lopburikid]

1 hour ago, ChipButty said:

Many foreigners are Real Estate agents

I saw a advert on Facebook an American guy stating he was the Managing Director of a Real Estate company in Phuket. offering Villas and Condos for sale and, rent.

[Tropicalevo]

3 hours ago, webfact said:

Last year, Phuket saw 194 foreigners lose their visas, with 998 facing deportation due to various offences

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

In January alone, Phuket welcomed 800,000 foreign tourists;

 

Not really a crime wave.

Just a small percentage.

[mikeymike100]

2 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Well Thailand, you let anyone in, what do you expect?

 

One of the consequences of a money-grabbing tourism campaign.

Yes indeed, Thailand, well, TAT and the Government only think about $$$$

 

[Iron Tongue]

3 hours ago, Joe32 said:

Many foreigners are tourist guides? What do they define as a tourist guide? 

If you have family or friends over, and show them around, will you get in trouble already? 

Many Chinese guides are working illegally, some even travel from China along with their tourists and return with them.

As for Russians, Just look online for how many taxi tours are offered in Russian by "local guides". 

[hotchilli]

4 hours ago, JimHuaHin said:

Well Thailand, you let anyone in, what do you expect?

 

One of the consequences of a money-grabbing tourism campaign.

The sand box scheme was the start of it, Phipat doing his utmost to welcome the Russian draft dodgers into the country..

[ikke1959]

Most drugs dealers are Thais.. and of course foreigners will buy , but the police is only watching in a one way direction. Believe me... In my neighbourhood there is drug dealer too, and when he is caught he has to pay a 50k and RTP release him, till next time.. Easy to blame foreigners but there are more criminal Thai in this country out of 70 million than foreigners

[ChipButty]

3 minutes ago, ikke1959 said:

Most drugs dealers are Thais.. and of course foreigners will buy , but the police is only watching in a one way direction. Believe me... In my neighbourhood there is drug dealer too, and when he is caught he has to pay a 50k and RTP release him, till next time.. Easy to blame foreigners but there are more criminal Thai in this country out of 70 million than foreigners

The biggest drug dealers are Thais, 

[rough diamond]

39 minutes ago, ChipButty said:

The biggest drug dealers are Thais, 

How do you know that?

Does that include all the dealers/suppliers that have never been caught?

[khunjeff]

9 hours ago, webfact said:

the province is focusing on tighter screening processes and visa regulations

 

I wasn't aware that provinces could make up their own visa regulations. 

 

9 hours ago, webfact said:

the immigration office now conducts bi-monthly meetings with consular officials, ensuring that all new arrivals have no active arrest warrants, appear on no blacklists, and possess sufficient funds and a defined itinerary

 

This implies that the meetings with consular officers have some connection with the things that immigration is "ensuring", which they don't. "No warrants" and "no blacklist" simply means that arrivals are run through the immigration database, just as they are at every other checkpoint in the country. "Sufficient funds and a defined itinerary" is also a theoretical requirement at every checkpoint in Thailand, but is virtually never checked, in Phuket or anywhere else.

 

And let's remember that these things are checked in Phuket only for foreigners arriving on the island directly from abroad. For those coming from Bangkok or elsewhere, Phuket immigration never sees them at all.

[stevenl]

2 hours ago, khunjeff said:

 

I wasn't aware that provinces could make up their own visa regulations. 

 

[Snip]

Of course they're not talking about visa regulations. But local immigration officials have a lot of leeway with regards to extensions.