The arrests have resulted in their employers licences being suspended for 15 days.
The operation saw the team carry out searches of 66 tour buses and minivans as they passed through the Tha Chatchai checkpoint when returning to Phuket from Phang-nga as it has been found that a number of tour vehicles that pass through the checkpoint often have illegal tour guides on board.
“We checked their job orders, tour guide licences and also tourist safety measures according to the provincial policy,” said Santi Pawai Chief of Ministry of Tourism and Sport Phuket office.
“We found five illegal tour guides, one from Myanmar and four hill tribe people who are classed as aliens,” he said.
The five were named as Ar-lu Sae Chee, 27, (non Thai citizen); Tun Lungchuay, 28, (non Thai citizen); Ar-maw, 27, Burmese; Siripong Sae-Chao (non Thai citizen) and Kaisiang Sae-li (non Thai citizen).
“As this is the first time they have been caught working illegally we suspended their employers [tour guide companies] licences for 15 days as a warning. If we find them working illegally a second time we will suspend the businesses for 30 days. If they are found a third time their licences will be revoked for good,” Mr Santi said.
“We want all tourists to feel secure while traveling in Thailand and also to send a message to every tour company that we are serious about our regulations. So do not lure or cheat the tourist and follow the rules please,” he added.
The five men are to be charged with working illegally as tour guides, the punishment of which is a fine of not more than B100,000 and/or imprisonment of not more than one year.