The Myanmar man, identified by police only as ‘Mr Paii’, was charged with multiple violations related to the illegal operation of a tourist boat. The arrest was part of an ongoing effort to crack down on illegal activities in the area, police said.
Mr Paii faces the following charges:
- Working without a valid work permit, in violation of the Royal Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers’ Employment Amendment (No. 2) B.E. 2561.
- Operating a boat with an expired license, contrary to the Thai Navigation Act No. 6 B.E. 2481.
- Operating a boat without the required certificate of knowledge and ability, as per Section 282 of the Thai Navigation Act B.E. 2456, amended by Section 19 of the Thai Navigation Act (No. 13) B.E. 2525.
- Failing to present a valid boat license, as required by Section 150 of the Thai Navigation Act B.E. 2535.
The arrest occurred during “a routine inspection” at Chalong Pier, according to Phuket Marine Police.
Police discovered that a longtail boat was ferrying tourists from Koh Lone to Chalong Pier. On inspecting the boat and its documentation, Mr Paii, who was operating the vessel, was unable to produce a work permit, boat license or certificate of knowledge and ability.
Further investigation revealed that the boat’s license had expired on Nov 5, 2024.
After being informed of his charges and rights, Mr Paii was taken into custody and taken to Marine Police Region 3 offices for processing. He was later taken to Chalong Police Station for further legal proceedings.
Marine Police in their report emphasised their commitment to enforcing maritime laws and ensuring the safety of tourists in Phuket.
“The Marine Police continue to monitor illegal activities, particularly those involving unlicensed operators in the tourism sector,” the report said.
However, Marine Police made no mention of whether was employed by another person or company, and made no mention of whether or not he was actually the owner of the boat.