Sixteen migrant workers were arrested around Bangkok’s Asoke intersection yesterday on suspicion of violating immigration laws.
Immigration police commander Lt. Gen. Pakpoompipat Sajjapan announced this Friday morning that around 50 immigration officers sweeped the area and apprehended street vendors between the Nana to Asoke areas following complaints that they were competing with Thai business operators.
Nine Myanmar nationals, two Cambodians, one Lao, one Vietnamese, and one undocumented person were arrested. Two Thai employers accused of illegally employing the foreign nationals were also arrested, bringing the bust up to 16 suspects.
Most of the suspects were arrested while selling food and clothing from mobile carts and temporary stalls. Some attempted to evade arrest but were captured after some lanes were closed off.
Some of those taken into custody were unable to present passports and work permits, while others had expired travel documents. Some were granted temporary exemptions for tourism reasons.
Selling goods on the street is illegal for foreign nationals as it poses, the police say, “a threat to public peace, safety, and the well-being of individuals and their properties, and also tarnishes the country’s image.”
Police said they conducted the operation following complaints, including from social media, that unlicensed foreign sellers were competing with Thai drink and food vendors, especially in key business areas.
The migrant workers face fines of up to THB50,000. Their employers could be punished with up to a THB100,000 fine and possible imprisonment.
