Raging Phuket black market passport trade

[Lite Beer]

Raging Phuket black market passport trade
Phuket Gazette -

PHUKET: Police have admitted they are powerless to prevent motorcycle and car rental operators from holding foreign tourists’ passports as collateral against potential damage to rented vehicles.

The news comes as the island’s top police officers try to stymie the fallout from international news reports branding Phuket a key source for stolen passports in the wake of the mysterious disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 last Saturday (story here).

Two men, Iranian nationals believed to be asylum seekers heading to Europe via Beijing, boarded the flight using passports stolen in Phuket (story here).

One of the passports was taken from a massage salon in Patong that was holding the essential travel document as collateral (story here).

“Something needs to be done, especially after learning that these two passports were used to board the plane,” Phuket Provincial Police Deputy Commander Arayapan Pukbuakao said on Wednesday.

“We are looking into what measures we can take, but as far as I know, there is no law in Thailand prohibiting foreigners from handing his or her own passport to another person to hold as per their own agreement.”

Col Arayapan said his officers will launch a campaign calling for rental vehicle operators to refrain from holding passports.

“They must understand that every passport remains the property of the government that issued it,” he explained.

Such campaigns have been held time and again in Phuket, usually resulting from a collective, concerted push by ambassadors and honorary consuls. Last July, Tourism and Sports Minister Somsak Pureesrisak himself blankly called for an end to the age-old practice of foreigners’ passports being held as a condition of renting motorbikes, cars and jet-skis (story here).

As recently as February 27, following reports of foreigners using a third party’s passport to rent and then steal several motorbikes on Koh Samui and in Krabi, Patong Police Deputy Superintendent Akanit Danpitaksat reminded vehicle rental agents that they were permitted to hold copies of passports, but not the original documents themselves (story here).

Regardless, the practice remains.

Although Col Arayapan confessed his officers were powerless to take action against vehicle operators, he warned that tourists were required by law to carry their passports at all times.

“Foreigners must be aware that if they fail to present their passports to authorities when requested, they could be fined or even deported,” he said.

The pressure to clean up Phuket’s raging stolen passport trade follows Italian tourist Luigi Maraldi having his passport handed over to a man who claimed to be Mr Maraldi’s “partner” while Mr Maraldi was on holiday in Phuket last year.

Mr Maraldi, 37, was listed as a passenger on Flight MH370, but was later found safe at a guesthouse on Nanai Road in Patong, and in possession of a new passport.

Somsak Sornsut, owner of BN Massage in Patong, which was holding Mr Maraldi’s passport last year as collateral on a motorbike he had rented, explained, “We kept his passport at the shop but, if he needed it for any reason, he could come back and borrow it as long as he returned it by the end of the day,” he said.

“My staff called to tell me that a foreigner had come to collect his passport. I asked her who and she said Mr Maraldi. I knew that he always brought his passport back to the shop in time, so I let my staff give it to him.”

The man who took Mr Maraldi’s passport left a Russian woman’s passport in exchange.

“My staff said she showed the man she thought was Mr Maraldi four passports and let him choose his own. The man collected one of them and left another in exchange, saying it belonged to his wife,” Mr Somsak said.

“She did not doubt that it was Mr Maraldi because the man who collected the passport looked similar to the picture.”

Mr Somsak said he had forgotten about the exchange until Mr Maraldi came to the shop asking for his passport.

“I told him that he had already taken his passport and had yet to return it,” said Mr Somsak.

“We then checked all the passports we had and called every customer to ask if they had taken the wrong one. All of them confirmed they had not.”

After waiting three days in case someone returned the passport, Mr Somsak and Mr Maraldi reported it missing to the Patong Police.

Mr Somsak told the Phuket Gazette that he knew holding passports was wrong, but claimed he gave tourists a choice.

“Customers can either leave their passport as a guarantee, or they can leave a copy of their passport and pay a cash deposit. The cash deposit is about 5,000 to 10,000 baht for motorcycles, and about 10,000 to 20,000 baht for cars,” he said.

Regular customers were exempt. “If we know the person well enough, all we require is their passport number,” he said.

Additional reporting by Kritsada Mueanhawong.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Raging-Phuket-black-market-passport-trade-27836.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-16

[rhythmworx]

Mai bpen arai, they are doing their best.

Edited March 16, 2014 by rhythmworx

[chooka]

Aren't the passports actually the property of the governments where people come from. What right does Somchia the local vender have to take them? I know people in Thailand love to collect copies of passports, geez soon you will have to provide a copy to buy a bowl of noodles.

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Preventing passport malpractice
Phuket Gazette -

Foreigners should be wary of rental operators who might monkey around with passports. Photo: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: The revelation that two passengers aboard the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were travelling on passports stolen in Phuket (story here) once again highlights the need for a serious and sustained crackdown on the use of travel documents as collateral on motorbike, car, and jet-ski rentals.

The need to end this ridiculous practice has already been the subject of much futile editorializing in this space. It is also one of the most consistent complaints during the equally futile meetings of Phuket’s honorary consuls with the ever-shifting brigade of government leaders on the island.

A much overlooked aspect of the widespread use of passports as collateral on financial transactions is the fact that it is, and always has been, an illegal practice.

While these documents are borne by the individuals in whose names they are issued, they nevertheless remain the legal property of the government that issues them, which can demand their return at any time.

These facts are clearly stated on passports issued by every country, at least that we are aware of, along with reference to statutes that indicate how and when they can be legally used. We are not aware of a single country that allows these documents to be used as collateral.

However, those tasked with the enforcement of passport law in Thailand, the police, are generally unaware of its existence. Even worse, many low-ranking officers are actively engaged in the tourist-oriented vehicle rental business, either directly or indirectly, as a sideline to boost their own meager official salaries.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been reported as recording some 60,000 passports – both Thai and foreign – as missing or stolen in the 18 months from January 2012 to June 2013.

Even taking into consideration the massive scale of the Thai tourism industry, this remains a truly staggering figure; one which might be significantly reduced if the practice of using passports as collateral could be ended.

Sadly, the fact that those tasked with upholding these laws are among those most actively engaged in breaking them does not bode well for any real change in the status quo in the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, the best avenue is to steer clear of vehicle rental outfits and other operations that demand passports as surety. If dealing with such a place is inevitable, it may be possible to use a photocopy of the first page of your passport with a line drawn through it instead.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-Opinion-Preventing-passport-malpractice-27837.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-16

[skills32]

Usually when a farang is short of money they will sell their passport. THB 20,000 is the going rate I believe.

[retell]

Simple law states , you got to have driving licence valid in thailand to drive a car or motorbike,

If vehicle operated by someone with DL then the vehicle can be insured

So if the BIB get of their ass and start working on giving big fines on rental shops that rent out bikes to people without DL

Would quickly solve the problem

Just my 2 satang

[retell]

Simple law states , you got to have driving licence valid in thailand to drive a car or motorbike,

If vehicle operated by someone with DL then the vehicle can be insured

So if the BIB get of their ass and start working on giving big fines on rental shops that rent out bikes to people without DL

Would quickly solve the problem

Just my 2 satang

Booming busines in pushbike rentals

[chooka]

Phuket Opinion: Preventing passport malpractice

Phuket Gazette -

Foreigners should be wary of rental operators who might monkey around with passports. Photo: Gazette Graphics

PHUKET: The revelation that two passengers aboard the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 were travelling on passports stolen in Phuket (story here) once again highlights the need for a serious and sustained crackdown on the use of travel documents as collateral on motorbike, car, and jet-ski rentals.

The need to end this ridiculous practice has already been the subject of much futile editorializing in this space. It is also one of the most consistent complaints during the equally futile meetings of Phuket’s honorary consuls with the ever-shifting brigade of government leaders on the island.

A much overlooked aspect of the widespread use of passports as collateral on financial transactions is the fact that it is, and always has been, an illegal practice.

While these documents are borne by the individuals in whose names they are issued, they nevertheless remain the legal property of the government that issues them, which can demand their return at any time.

These facts are clearly stated on passports issued by every country, at least that we are aware of, along with reference to statutes that indicate how and when they can be legally used. We are not aware of a single country that allows these documents to be used as collateral.

However, those tasked with the enforcement of passport law in Thailand, the police, are generally unaware of its existence. Even worse, many low-ranking officers are actively engaged in the tourist-oriented vehicle rental business, either directly or indirectly, as a sideline to boost their own meager official salaries.

Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been reported as recording some 60,000 passports – both Thai and foreign – as missing or stolen in the 18 months from January 2012 to June 2013.

Even taking into consideration the massive scale of the Thai tourism industry, this remains a truly staggering figure; one which might be significantly reduced if the practice of using passports as collateral could be ended.

Sadly, the fact that those tasked with upholding these laws are among those most actively engaged in breaking them does not bode well for any real change in the status quo in the foreseeable future.

In the meantime, the best avenue is to steer clear of vehicle rental outfits and other operations that demand passports as surety. If dealing with such a place is inevitable, it may be possible to use a photocopy of the first page of your passport with a line drawn through it instead.

Source: http://www.phuketgazette.net/phuket_news/2014/Phuket-Opinion-Preventing-passport-malpractice-27837.html

-- Phuket Gazette 2014-03-16

Well this confirmed my thoughts and answered my question. I am aware in Australia only the courts can order the holding of a persons passport and this is normally only done as part of bail conditions.

[iSabai]

Aren't the passports actually the property of the governments where people come from. What right does Somchia the local vender have to take them? I know people in Thailand love to collect copies of passports, geez soon you will have to provide a copy to buy a bowl of noodles.

The real question is how stupid can farangs be to hand over their passports to some 'street vendor'?

As quickly as every farang stopped doing that, they would just as quickly find another way to get the deal done.

[MK1]

Only first time travelers or naive idiots to Thailand hand over their passports as security for renting a motorbike or car. A copy of your passport is sufficient and normal International practice for years. This issue is nothing more than sensational negative spin.

[Somtamnication]

Actually, the going rate is 50k for a UK passport. I know because it was offered to me while walking in Phuket Town. The market is huge.

So if I am an idiot, I can sell the passport for 50k. Go to a police station, file a lost report, fly to BKK, pay 8k or so for a new one. Flight costs, food, bars, pineapples, and I still bring home 40k.

[LivinLOS]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Aren't the passports actually the property of the governments where people come from. What right does Somchia the local vender have to take them? I know people in Thailand love to collect copies of passports, geez soon you will have to provide a copy to buy a bowl of noodles.

The real question is how stupid can farangs be to hand over their passports to some 'street vendor'?

As quickly as every farang stopped doing that, they would just as quickly find another way to get the deal done.

Only first time travelers or naive idiots to Thailand hand over their passports as security for renting a motorbike or car. A copy of your passport is sufficient and normal International practice for years. This issue is nothing more than sensational negative spin.

However the problem for most tourist visitors, ones without contacts on the island or someone to guide them is that the renters of motorcycles and scooters simply refuse to deal with anything less.

As the tuktuks hold the island to ransom to get from A to B a scooter then becomes the next obvious step.. To obtain one you pretty much have to leave you passport.

Sure, expats and locals can name a contact who is a bit more flexible, but your average fresh of the plane tourist doesnt have anyone to ask or any idea where to find an alternative.

[Jimi007]

The police are as dumb as the tourists that are willing to hand over a passport to an unlicensed, uninsured vendor.The passport is the property of the issuing government, not the holder of the passport! Yet again, what a friking joke the Royal Thai Police and the Thai Government are! It's time to grow up and do business the way the rest of the world does… I guess they like holding onto their third world status while wanting first class resort status. As any of us that have lived in Phuket knows, that will never happen. The place is a first class garbage dump! Just look along the side of any road. Amazing Thailand…

[MK1]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Aren't the passports actually the property of the governments where people come from. What right does Somchia the local vender have to take them? I know people in Thailand love to collect copies of passports, geez soon you will have to provide a copy to buy a bowl of noodles.

The real question is how stupid can farangs be to hand over their passports to some 'street vendor'?

As quickly as every farang stopped doing that, they would just as quickly find another way to get the deal done.

Only first time travelers or naive idiots to Thailand hand over their passports as security for renting a motorbike or car. A copy of your passport is sufficient and normal International practice for years. This issue is nothing more than sensational negative spin.

However the problem for most tourist visitors, ones without contacts on the island or someone to guide them is that the renters of motorcycles and scooters simply refuse to deal with anything less.

As the tuktuks hold the island to ransom to get from A to B a scooter then becomes the next obvious step.. To obtain one you pretty much have to leave you passport.

Sure, expats and locals can name a contact who is a bit more flexible, but your average fresh of the plane tourist doesnt have anyone to ask or any idea where to find an alternative.

Most accommodation properties have motorbikes for rent as part of additional services without the need for passport holding deposit since they already have your identity at check in.

If you're a regularly drinker at one of the bars they too will rent you a motorbike and in some cases without the need for any identification at all. Sure, fresh off the plane new arrivals will always oblige to passport security but this only a small percentage because of the market being so large.

However, I must say travelers to Koh Phangan are always desperate to rent some mode of transport on the island and will always play by the local rules by obliging to hand over their passport in order to achieve that outcome.

Edited March 16, 2014 by MK1

[scorecard]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Only first time travelers or naive idiots to Thailand hand over their passports as security for renting a motorbike or car. A copy of your passport is sufficient and normal International practice for years. This issue is nothing more than sensational negative spin.

Here's another point, there are people who gather copies of passports to start insurance / health insurance policies, and then in cahouts with dishonest doctors claim bogus refunds for medical expenses.

Ultimately this is why, when I withdraw funds away from my home bank branch, I always write full details of the transaction: date / time / location / actual transaction & amount across the photo / passport number etc., details and then sign it.

My Thai son and his Thai wife do the same think across any copy of their Thai ID cards.

Edited March 16, 2014 by scorecard

[FireMedic]

I wrote this somewhere else also. This problem is easy to solve and would be fixed in one week.

New Thai law mandates:

Caught forging passports: 30 year mandatory in Bang Kwan prison.

Caught with a forged passport: 15 years mandatory at Bang Kwan.

Caught committing or planning a crime(terrorist activities) with a forged passport: Hanged the following week.

Caught asking for a passport for collateral on any rental: Fined 500,000 thb and Caned according to Singaporean methods.

Any police officer caught directly protecting or sponsoring such activity: Hanged for risking Thai National Security.

Any police officer caught indirectly protecting or sponsoring such activity: Immediately removed from position and all financial accounts frozen mandatory 10 years in Bang Kwan.

[TechnikaIII]

My British passport is the property of Her Majesty's government, and I, as it's holder, am responsible for it's care. With the exception of handing it over to a consulate office for a new visa, under no circumstances does it ever leave my sight.

Any fool who hands their passport to a vehicle rental business, is failing to take proper care of the passport, and should be charged for negligence, and have his/her rights to a passport relinquished. Further, if the passport is stolen under these circumstances, held fully responsible for it's loss, as well as being charged as an accessory in people trafficking.

IDIOTS !!!

[fullcave]

they are “powerless"…

[transam]

We have had farangs here say leaving their passport for a guarantee is nooooooooooooooo problem. Wish I had the patients to find out who they were.

Numnuts............

[klauskunkel]

"Something needs to be done! But we are soooo powerless...especially when dealing with Phuket's tuk-tuk government run by a "powerful, senior person" dressed in black! There is nothing we can do, we are sooo weak, booohooohooo! Can Mr Ban Ki Moon please come and help the Phuket police once he is finished in Bangkok? We will give him a free ride from the airport...oh, sorry, can't do that...we will give him a Rolex! Oh Buddah, the whole world is laughing at us, again."

source: a high ranking Phuket police officer, dressed in pink

[tingtongfarang]

having a normal public transport system would cure a large part of the problem , but the people who leave there passport anywhere need their bumps feeling.

[RobFord]

I'm currently embroiled in a FedEx scam.

I've emails asking me to mail them my passport.

[samjaidee]

Usually when a farang is short of money they will sell their passport. THB 20,000 is the going rate I believe.

Usually when a farang is short of money they will go home. What planet are you on?

[metisdead]

An off topic post has been removed.

[harleyclarkey]

The holder, not owner, of a passport is not meant to hand them over to anyone...except immigration.

We have to rememebr that many of the tourists are young and rather naive. They won't have the life experience to never, ever, hand over your passport to some scam artist and rental scum bag. You can be held accountable for anything once these cheats have your valuable document ,without which you are captive, a hostage to the con men, and you can't move.

Don't expect a single iota of help from the thugs in brown.

I refuse to call these low life's police.

Edited March 16, 2014 by harleyclarkey

[rickirs]

"... there is no law in Thailand prohibiting foreigners from handing his or her own passport to another person to hold as per their own agreement.”

Such a law is unnecessary. Get a law then that prohibits vendors for holding passports? If the foreign tourist can't otherwise provide satisfactory security (how about that Roelx watch?), then there is no rental. If a vendor is found holding passports, they get fined. Or the police can enforcing the existing law that requires foreign tourists to have their passport (or copy?) on hand and fine them if they do not.

It seems polic ejust want to avoind the whole issue. And so the probelm continues and so does Thailand's shame.

[X pat]

I have worked over seas for many years,and the one thing I lure t is that the only person to keep a passport is the owner of that pass port,and if a rental co. wants a copy they can have it,but the owner is responsible for it,and if he is dumb enough to let them take it sham on him.

[Bangmod]

Even in my home country (netherlands) the government warns people to not comply with shops who ask to make a copy of your passport, because they are not allowed to do so!!!!

[johnlandy]

Mai bpen arai, they are doing their best.

You're joking or you are dreaming. Get your head out of the sand 'doing their best'

[hawker9000]

<script type='text/javascript'>window.mod_pagespeed_start = Number(new Date());</script>

Aren't the passports actually the property of the governments where people come from. What right does Somchia the local vender have to take them? I know people in Thailand love to collect copies of passports, geez soon you will have to provide a copy to buy a bowl of noodles.

The real question is how stupid can farangs be to hand over their passports to some 'street vendor'?

As quickly as every farang stopped doing that, they would just as quickly find another way to get the deal done.

Only first time travelers or naive idiots to Thailand hand over their passports as security for renting a motorbike or car. A copy of your passport is sufficient and normal International practice for years. This issue is nothing more than sensational negative spin.

However the problem for most tourist visitors, ones without contacts on the island or someone to guide them is that the renters of motorcycles and scooters simply refuse to deal with anything less.

As the tuktuks hold the island to ransom to get from A to B a scooter then becomes the next obvious step.. To obtain one you pretty much have to leave you passport.

Sure, expats and locals can name a contact who is a bit more flexible, but your average fresh of the plane tourist doesnt have anyone to ask or any idea where to find an alternative.

They: Passport, please.

You: No.

They: Must have your passport, or no motorbike.

You: OK, no motorbike.

You (to self): But gee, must have motorbike because of taxi mafia on the island.

Your common sense: OK - NO PHUKET!!!!!

Very simple (and hardly the only reason to stay away from Phuket).

Honestly, bad enough to lose one or have one stolen, but that someone would actually hand over their passport just to rent a bike... And after this MH370 incident, I have a feeling replacement passports are going to start becoming a bit harder to come by.