Myanmar woman detained during Phuket market raid
A Myanmar woman was detained during an inspection of two Phuket Town markets over complaints that foreign workers were engaged in retail trading, an occupation restricted under Thai law.
A Myanmar woman was detained during an inspection of two markets in Phuket Town over suspected illegal trading, the Phuket Provincial Employment Office said on Monday, July 20, 2026.
The operation, dubbed “Operation Dawn at Downtown Market”, was led by the employment office in cooperation with the Phuket Provincial Police Investigation Unit. Officers inspected Downtown Market and Public Market 2, also known as the Agricultural Market, after receiving complaints that foreign workers were engaged in retail trading, an occupation restricted under Thai law.
The woman was taken for document verification and legal proceedings. Several businesses named in complaints were closed during the inspection. Authorities said some operators may have known about the raid in advance and had not opened their shops, preventing a full investigation.
Tae Achiwa, leader of the “Thai Mai Tonn” group, observed the operation and said inspections would continue in cooperation with authorities. Officials said they would expand the investigation to other businesses named in complaints and continue checking workers’ employment status and work permits. Action will be taken against illegal workers and employers found to have violated the law, they said, with further inspections planned in high-risk areas across Phuket.
