The eight workers were arrested at the site of the Ashera Villa Phase 3 project, located in Moo 9, Thepkrasattri, at 10am yesterday (Feb 24). Starting prices for villas at the project are listed as from B32.9 million.
Joining Thalang Police for the raid were officers from Phuket Immigration, Phuket Tourist Police, Phuket Provincial Employment Office and the Phuket branch of the
Internal Security Operations Command (Isoc), which serves as the political arm of the Thai military..
Officers moved in at the site after receiving a tip-off. When the officers arrived, they found more than 10 men who appeared to be Chinese, Thalang Police reported.
The workers fled when they saw the officers approach. The officers were able to arrest eight of them, with two of the workers getting away.
The eight Chinese nationals, all men, were later identified as Cao Hengfeng, 40; Zhao Jishi, 42; Gu Xingheng, 38; Xiang Longji, 38; Wang Peng, 25; Li Shichen, 39; Zhou Hong, 45; and Wang Wenan, 35.
None of the eight suspects were unable to present their work permits to officers, police reported.
During questioning, the suspects admitted that they had been hired as construction workers by an employer who provided them with accommodations at i-Life Prime Thalang Village in Tambon Thepkrasattri.
They received a monthly salary ranging from B20,000 to B25,000.
Further checks revealed that the men had entered Thailand on tourist visas from Feb 5-15.
While their visas had not yet expired, they were found in violation of Thai labour laws, which prohibit foreign nationals from working without a work permit.
The eight were informed of their legal rights and taken to Thalang Police Station, where they were charged with working illegally in the country, police confirmed.