Phuket Tourist Police Chief Col Srisak Kampeeraphan led his team of officers to arrested Ruikai Chen, 30, at the Phuket Checkpoint (Tha Chatchai) in Mai Khao at 6:30pm yesterday.
A statement issued by police states that Ruikai was arrested for working as an illegal tour guide and living in Thailand illegally. Police seized from him a tour program and a name list of tourists in his group.
The arrest of Ruikai came as police at stationed at the checkpoint were stopping incoming vehicles to check for anyone breaking the Tourist Act in Phuket.
Col Srisak explained, “Ruikai came on a bus registered in Nakorn Prathom with a group of 26 Chinese tourists. They came from Phang Nga and were entering Phuket via the chekpoint. When officers stopped the bus Ruikai came forward as the tour leader for the group. Officers asked to see his identification and work permit the latter of which he could not provide.
The police statement also states that Ruikai said that he is a tour leader for the group not a guide so he did not have a guide permit with him.
Ruikai was taken to Tha Chatchai Police Station to be charge with working as an illegal guide and living in Thailand illegally.