The raid came following complaints from local residents about problems with rubbish being dumped in and around the area close to the camp.
Chief of Phuket Internal Security Operation Command Capt Sathaporn Wajarat led a group of officials from various government departments to carry out the road at 6:15pm yesterday at the camp which is located just metres away from Phuket Provincial Hall.
Capt Sathaporn said, “We were told that about 100 workers were living at the camp, but when we carried out the raid a number of them had not returned back from work. Those that were there were checked for work permits and identification cards.
“We found 12 migrant workers who had no work permit so they were taken to the Immigration Police,” he said.
Capt Sathaporn went on to explain that the raid came after local residents filed a number complaints at the Darongdhama Centre stating that there was a lot of rubbish being dumped around the camps site and that the rubbish was causing a bad stench and an increase in the number of mosquitoes.
“We discovered that there are too many people living in this tiny area. The ground is always damp due to the time of year and rubbish has been dumped all across the area. The toilets were also unhygienic.” he said.
“The camp’s caretaker told us the workers had been living at the camp since September last year and most worked on construction being carried out at local schools.
“Municipality officials have advised the caretaker to ensure the area is kept clean and that the owner of the land must ensure that the entire areas is hygienic,” Capt Sathaporn concluded.