16 Chinese nationals and 62 Myanmar workers arrested at Phuket villa construction site
A raid at a luxury villa construction site in Cherng Talay led to the arrest of 16 Chinese nationals accused of working on tourist visas and 62 Myanmar workers accused of illegal entry.
Authorities in Phuket arrested 16 Chinese nationals and 62 undocumented migrant workers from Myanmar during a raid on a luxury villa construction site in Cherng Talay.
The operation took place at 10:00 a.m. and was carried out by the Security Threat Suppression Command with support from the 41st Military Police Battalion, the 1st Infantry Battalion of the 15th Infantry Regiment, and other agencies.
Officials said the raid followed a tip from local residents who reported suspicious activity at the site. According to the source, Chinese nationals were allegedly working as engineers and supervisors, while most of the labor force consisted of Myanmar workers.
Initial investigation found that the 16 Chinese supervisors were working on tourist visas, which do not permit employment in Thailand. Authorities also said 62 Myanmar nationals could not provide documents showing legal entry into the country.
All detainees were taken to Cherng Talay Police Station for legal processing. The Chinese nationals face charges related to working on improper visas, while the Myanmar workers will be prosecuted for illegal entry. After court proceedings, Phuket immigration authorities will arrange for their deportation, according to the source.
