Phuket police net 78 illegal fishermen

[Lite Beer]

Phuket police net 78 illegal fishermen
Phuket Gazette -

Illegal workers being detained in Phuket. Photo: Kritsada Mueanhawong

PHUKET: Police rounded up 84 suspected illegal fishermen from across the island yesterday through raids on the Phuket Fish Marketing Organization, the Patong area and various boats dotted along the Phuket coastline.

“Officers were arranged into three teams and inspected locations where we guessed illegal immigrant workers might be found," said Phuket Immigration Superintendent Sanchai Chokhayaikij.

On seeing the raiding officers arrive at the Phuket Fish Marketing Organization office, some illegal workers attempted to escape.

“A number of them ran in different directions. Some ran into the forest and others fled to the second floor of the building,” said Col Sanchai.

“The police managed to track some of them down and informed them that they were simply checking for work permits,” Col Sanchai explained.

All 84 suspects were brought to Phuket Immigration to check their documents and immigration status.

One of the business owners whose workers were rounded up was able to show valid work permits for six of the suspects.

“Of the remaining 78 suspects, 73 were charged for working in positions [or places] that differed from those cited in their work permit,” Col Sanchai said.

The other five had entered Thailand illegally.

In total, 69 of those held by Immigration were Burmese, four were Vietnamese, one was Cambodian, two were Indian and two were Pakistani.

The suspects are currently being detained at the Phuket Immigration office, awaiting deportation.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2013/Phuket-police-net-78-illegal-fishermen-21996.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2013-08-17

[NamKangMan]

Ummm, let me guess, the raids were organised to be just before salary was due.

[BrianCR]

"One of the business owners whose workers were rounded up was able to show valid work permits for six of the suspects."
So! He was arrested and charged with employing illegal immigrant workers? No! Well why the hell not?????????
PS. I love the uniforms of the arresting officer and good luck to the illegals!

[NomadJoe]

Officials should be more concerned about rescuing the Burmese slaves that serve on the fishing boats and stopping the illegal fishing practices that are destroying Phukets marine ecosystem. But there is not money in that.

[billbenbob]

Send some of these police over to the uk maybe they can show our lot how to find illegal immigrants

[yougivemebaby]

It's hilarious to see these scams. What makes Thailand a "third world country" just like the others? Our governments did these scams a long time ago. We've seen them. We just are oblivious or not smart enough to see the new scams they've come up with.

[arthurboy]

Cosmetic claptrap.

Why no arrests of the boat or business owners? How did these people come to be working on these boats? Were they trafficked or victims of yet another scam?

Media today is a global phenomenon, so don't these professionals realise that the US and other interested parties log these cases and just might be asking the same questions?

Still, it's a great opportunity for the immigration police to get their photographs in the newspaper.

Ho hum...

[nami]

The report is a bit misleading. I understood almost everyone had a valid work permit except for the ones entering illegally. From those, just 6 worked at the place specified in the wp. So the vast majority appears to have work permit but working in a different place than stated on it. Or they were expired work permits or what? They said invalid but then charged with working in a different location. Then they talk about deportation but, if my memory is not wrong, the punishment is like 2000 baht and/or 30 days in jail. How the hell can you deport someone when you are charging them with working at another location? Or is it just the 5 without visas the Ines being deported?