Police in Chiang Mai arrested three Chinese men for allegedly working without permits after complaints from local residents about a large Chinese film crew operating in Hang Dong district.

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The arrests took place on 19 May 2026 after residents in the Nam Phrae area of Hang Dong reported loud noise and disruption caused by overnight filming activity near the irrigation canal road. Officers from Hang Dong Police Station, tourist police, and investigation units inspected the location and found a large film production crew unloading equipment for filming.

According to police, the production itself had obtained the required permission to film in the area. However, officers discovered that three Chinese nationals working on the set did not have valid work permits. The men were arrested on charges of being foreign nationals working without permission under Thailand’s Foreign Workers Management Emergency Decree B.E. 2560 and amendments introduced in 2018.

The operation was led by Pol Col Jakriyut Chotiwachiraphong, superintendent of Hang Dong Police Station, together with Pol Lt Col Ekkhanit Khajijit, deputy investigation superintendent, Pol Lt Col Anek Sripho, superintendent of prevention and suppression, and Pol Lt Col Avirut Sukyaem of Tourist Police Division 2.

The case has drawn attention in Chiang Mai, where authorities have recently increased scrutiny of foreign-operated productions and business activities. Residents in the area reportedly contacted police after becoming frustrated with the noise created by the large night-time production crew.

Police said the three suspects would face further legal proceedings. No additional details about the film production or the identities of those arrested were released.

The arrests come less than two weeks after authorities in Hang Dong raided an unlicensed Chinese vertical drama series production on 8 May 2026. In that earlier case, tourist police and local officers arrested members of a film crew accused of operating without official filming permission.

The latest incident is likely to increase pressure on authorities to monitor foreign productions more closely, particularly in Chiang Mai, where complaints involving Chinese-run businesses and entertainment projects have become more visible in recent months.

Amarin reported that officials have not announced whether additional inspections or enforcement operations will follow, but police said investigations into foreign workers and filming activities in the district would continue.

Picture courtesy of Amarin

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Adapted by ASEAN Now Amarin 20 May 2026

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There's a fair sized community of Chinese in Chiang Mai nowadays; it has been growing steadily and post covid, it really has increased. Some clearly have a subtle confidence, with many, an aloofness and their natural disregard for others often shows. Is it natural, cultural, is it an adaption to life abroad, is it their media, is it indoctrination..............?

I wouldn't know, but probably a mix..however personally, I have met some wonderful families from mainland China in Chiang Mai over the last few years, mostly educating their children and escaping a different world; as well as observerving some traits in others' that get my goat..........over confidence can bring with it an arrogance and workers on film sets working through the night willy nilly shows a disregard for authority and I don't think they really care. I think they genuinely believe their governnment with it's influence here in Asia or in the least, their nationality will make it all go away.

Recently, I seem to be seeing alot of negative press in regard to Chnese committing some quite serious crimes in and around Thailand's borders, whether it be arms dealing, kidnappings or scam centres, I mean come on, only the other day, I was chatting with a shady Jade merchant operating over the border in Myanmar and who really drives all the lairy and flash vehicles here. It doesn't take alot to spot a criminal, the body language and look is the same world over, the eye movement, the swivel head, the seat choice, the attire, the cigarettes, the bolshiness, and that's the street guys.

Then there's the intermediaries, of which there are many here in Chiang Mai, the smarter ones, the one's who drive the Raptors, operate subterranean RMB to THb exchanges, facilitate and flit back and forth between countries.....

The bosses slip in rarely; more r&r, we have a new influencial team here in the Kingdom and it's not the Germans of old Pattaya from the 80's, not the Russians, or wannabe Brit gangsters and rejects from Marseille; but Thailand's near neighbour, just 90 mins direct flight away, Chiang Mai to Kunming.................Expect more press and schenanigans as China's sphere of influence is serious and growing exponentially, especially here in SE Asia, and their citizens now know and enjoy that fact.................

Cinema has played an important part in Thailand's soft power. The White Lotus is just an example, perhaps a touch softer than Rambo. Nevertheless, their current campaign to eradicate everything that is not Thai is akin to killing the Golden Goose. Often times, foreigners accomplish things that locals can't.