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Iranian Man Arrested After 20 Years living illegally in Thailand

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Picture courtesy of พัทยา จุดเกิดเหตุ 

 

An unnamed, Iranian man who had been living and working illegally in Thailand for nearly two decades was arrested by Chonburi Immigration officers following complaints from residents in Pattaya’s Phra Tamnak Hill area. Locals accused him of behaving like a mafia figure and causing public disturbance while secretly working at a local restaurant.

 

On 3 November 2025, Pol. Col. Napasphong Khositsuriyamanee, Superintendent of Chonburi Immigration, led the operation alongside Pol. Lt. Col. Kawinwat Arayasuriwong, Pol. Lt. Jarit Raosathian and other officers. Acting on a tip-off from a concerned citizen, officers launched a covert investigation into reports of a foreign man engaging in illegal employment and intimidating behaviour.

 

Investigators located the suspect working at a restaurant on Phra Tamnak Hill and disguised themselves as tourists to gather evidence. When they entered the premises, the Iranian man approached them, offered menu recommendations and invited them to dine, actions consistent with the complaint received, about him working. Once his identity was confirmed, the arrest team moved in and detained him without incident.

 

During questioning, the suspect admitted to having entered Thailand illegally in 2006 and remaining without authorisation for nearly 20 years. Officers charged him with illegally entering the kingdom and working without permission under the Immigration and Labour Acts.

 

The man was handed over to Pattaya City Police Station for legal proceedings. Immigration authorities stated that the investigation would continue to identify any associates or networks that may have assisted him during his long-term illegal stay.

 

Key Takeaways

 

• An Iranian national was arrested in Pattaya after nearly 20 years of illegal residence.

• He had been working without permission at a restaurant on Phra Tamnak Hill.

• Authorities are expanding the investigation to trace potential accomplices.

 

Related Stories

 

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French-fugitive-busted-in-samui-after-year-long-overstay

 

image.png  Adapted  by  Asean  Now from พัทยา จุดเกิดเหตุ 2025-11-04

 

 

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So much for staying under the radar and not calling attention to oneself.  Being obnoxious or intimidating or whatever initiated the complaint .. oh well

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Great news! The dream is still possible.

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2 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

foreign man engaging in illegal employment and intimidating behaviour

Locals accused him of behaving like a mafia figure and causing public disturbance

Great work, now focus on arresting the other hundreds of dodgy foreigners in Pattaya. 

 

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14 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Great work, now focus on arresting the other hundreds of dodgy foreigners in Pattaya.  [I added the emphasis]

 

 

Hundreds? I think you are being too kind. 😆

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1 hour ago, blaze master said:

Greatest hide and seek player of all time

 

Goat.

And yet such blatant behaviour! Perhaps recent. 

Best to keep a low profile if here illegally, plenty of people appear willing to bubble miscreants to the police. 

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Impressive filing system...also dating back 20 years!

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20 years overstay. Respect. 

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I'm gobsmacked. In the village I live in we have a copycat occurance. There's an Iranian living openly with his Thai teelak and her children. He's been living here openly, working, for a good few years. He usually works in the fields but currently he's the delivery boy for the teelaks restaurant. He speaks fluent English and Thai. I actually thought, on reading the article, that it was the same person. Amazing.

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4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Acting on a tip-off from a concerned citizen, officers launched a covert investigation

SOP for most successful arrests - despite the photo of the smug officers.

 

4 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

living and working illegally in Thailand for nearly two decades

So the 90 day reporting system doesn't work?

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Legend!🎖🏆

4 hours ago, gk10012001 said:

So much for staying under the radar and not calling attention to oneself.  Being obnoxious or intimidating or whatever initiated the complaint .. oh well

Must have had some form of help, and was probably up to no good 

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1 hour ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I'm gobsmacked. In the village I live in we have a copycat occurance. There's an Iranian living openly with his Thai teelak and her children. He's been living here openly, working, for a good few years. He usually works in the fields but currently he's the delivery boy for the teelaks restaurant. He speaks fluent English and Thai. I actually thought, on reading the article, that it was the same person. Amazing.

 

Why hasn't anyone turned him in yet?

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7 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

Why hasn't anyone turned him in yet?

The likes of where I live I doubt the locals would know how to. Or know that he's acting illegally.

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So if the police sent a few undercover agents into say 100 or so restaurants that have falangs standing around there all the time as if just maybe they are working there how many more would be arrested for overstays or working with no permits? 

 

My guess is a LOT.  Add in a few other bars, stores, rental agents, etc and the next thing you know you have a whole jail full.  Maybe i am wrong but it sure seems to me that a lot of falangs that hang around the same biz all day every day are not there just because they have nothing better to do.

 

But hey maybe i am wrong and they all do have work permits and all visas etc are spot on?

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5 hours ago, blaze master said:

Greatest hide and seek player of all time

 

Goat.

A Brit lasted 25 years !

 

Silver medal 

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2 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I'm gobsmacked. In the village I live in we have a copycat occurance. There's an Iranian living openly with his Thai teelak and her children. He's been living here openly, working, for a good few years. He usually works in the fields but currently he's the delivery boy for the teelaks restaurant. He speaks fluent English and Thai. I actually thought, on reading the article, that it was the same person. Amazing.

well, the teelak being Thai, I assume?  She is being helped by him so other Thais in the area didn't really see the need to disrupt things I guess.

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2 hours ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

I'm gobsmacked. In the village I live in we have a copycat occurance. There's an Iranian living openly with his Thai teelak and her children. He's been living here openly, working, for a good few years. He usually works in the fields but currently he's the delivery boy for the teelaks restaurant. He speaks fluent English and Thai. I actually thought, on reading the article, that it was the same person. Amazing.

Good for him, long may he reign 

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6 hours ago, Georgealbert said:

Locals accused him of behaving like a mafia figure

Don't upset the Thai mafia they will grass you up.....

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7 minutes ago, brian69 said:

Don't upset the Thai mafia they will grass you up.....

a very possible situation there.  Piss off a local that may then have a connection .  Actions can have consequences/

41 minutes ago, NorthernRyland said:

 

Why hasn't anyone turned him in yet?

 

29 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

The likes of where I live I doubt the locals would know how to. Or know that he's acting illegally.

Up to you then Ivor.....👍

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15 minutes ago, petermik said:

Up to you then Ivor.....👍

 

Can't say I haven't thought about it. Based on the fact I've lived here 20 years and never once have I commited an illegal immigration act. That includes using an agent for my extensions. I do admit I feel somewhat jealous that he's got away with a crime for so long whereas I struggled at times to stay legal. I have 3 teenage children, which is costly, and the Iranian looks as if he hasn't a care in the world. But my conscience is clear. I hope he can sleep at night.

22 minutes ago, stupidfarang said:

will he be deported back to Iran or will he get a choice?

 

He's got to cough up a 20,000 Baht fine first. He sure as hell won't have that. His teelak will undoubtably know he's illegal so will she be fined as well? 

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Gosh, another Israeli caught. Does the brown shirt brigade know? Surely, this will result in multiple accusatory topic entries.

Oh wait. Never mind. He was an Iranian, or as a brown shirt, might say, EYE rainy-on.

 

Yes, I know he should not be in Thailand. However, I doubt he was as bad as described. Look at the  description. Locals accused him of behaving like a mafia figure and causing public disturbance while secretly working at a local restaurant.    Sure, a mafia figure who secretly works at a restaurant. That's sure to be an intimidating position, a host handing out menus at a restaurant. What's he done to be so ferocious? Intimidated  locals with a kabob? Threatened someone with a bowl of Aash Shalgham?

 

I expect that the real story is that someone who knew his secret shared with someone else who tried to shake him down or who had a dispute and used this against the man. I doubt, he would have been so stupid to attract attention to himself. He managed to get by for 20 years, and then all of a sudden he became Don Mohammed, leader of  Iranian Ravioli family?   Yea, in your  xenophobic  fantasy world, maybe. 

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4 minutes ago, IvorBiggun2 said:

 

Can't say I haven't thought about it. Based on the fact I've lived here 20 years and never once have I commited an illegal immigration act. That includes using an agent for my extensions. I do admit I feel somewhat jealous that he's got away with a crime for so long whereas I struggled at times to stay legal. I have 3 teenage children, which is costly, and the Iranian looks as if he hasn't a care in the world. But my conscience is clear. I hope he can sleep at night.

 

  I would get too stressed out if I was on overstay .

Knowing that everyday could be your last and you could be back home next week with a 10 year ban from Thailand . Constantly waiting for that knock on the door , way too stressful .

1 hour ago, pomchop said:

So if the police sent a few undercover agents into say 100 or so restaurants that have falangs standing around there all the time as if just maybe they are working there how many more would be arrested for overstays or working with no permits? 

 

My guess is a LOT.  Add in a few other bars, stores, rental agents, etc and the next thing you know you have a whole jail full.  Maybe i am wrong but it sure seems to me that a lot of falangs that hang around the same biz all day every day are not there just because they have nothing better to do.

 

But hey maybe i am wrong and they all do have work permits and all visas etc are spot on?

IF the farangs 'standing around there all the time' are the owners, well, that's all they are allowed to do I'm pretty sure. They can't bus the tables, bring you a beer.... nada. 

So perfectly normal to just hang out and keep an eye on the staff, etc

Yeah, 20 years... pro effort, give you that. However, sounds like he was the instigator of his own downfall by getting too comfortable, being arrogant, and a huge display of hubris thinking he was untouchable and acting like he owned the place. Should have flown under the radar better... bit of a school-boy error trying to play the big bad man, very noob really and asking for it.

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