Chon Buri Raid Nets 42 Illegal Foreign Workers

Labour officials and tourist police in Chon Buri have arrested 42 foreign workers during a raid on a construction site in Khao Khansong, Si Racha district. The operation targeted workers accused of working without permits and overstaying their visas.

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The raid took place on 7 May and involved officers from the Chon Buri Provincial Labour Office and the Tourist Police Bureau. The operation was conducted under the direction of Pol Lt Gen Saksira Phueak-am, commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, along with Pol Col Man Rotthong and Pol Lt Col Piyapong Raksa from the bureau’s investigation division.

Authorities inspected a construction site in Moo 7, Khao Khansong subdistrict, where they detained a total of 42 foreign nationals. Among those arrested were 27 Chinese nationals accused of working in construction while holding only temporary permission to stay in Thailand. Officers said the group had no valid work permits, in violation of the Immigration Act 1979 and regulations under the Emergency Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers Employment 2017 and its 2018 amendment.

A further Chinese national was charged with the same offences and additionally accused of overstaying his permission to remain in Thailand by two days. Officials stated that he had continued working on the construction site despite his permission having expired.

Police also arrested 14 Myanmar nationals. They were accused of illegally entering and residing in Thailand without permission, as well as working without permits or outside the conditions allowed under Thai labour laws.

All 42 suspects were transferred to Bo Win Police Station for further legal proceedings. Authorities did not release details about the construction company involved or whether employers would face additional penalties.

The Chon Buri Provincial Labour Office and the Tourist Police Bureau said the crackdown formed part of ongoing efforts to tackle illegal foreign labour and immigration offences in the province. Officials urged members of the public to report suspected cases involving undocumented migrant workers or other immigration violations to the relevant authorities.

The Daily News reported that the operation comes amid continued nationwide enforcement campaigns targeting illegal employment, overstaying foreign nationals and cross-border labour trafficking. Thai authorities have increased inspections in industrial and construction sectors where undocumented labour is frequently discovered.

Picture courtesy of Daily News

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Dailynews 9 May 2026

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