The operation, dubbed ‘Operation Dawn at Downtown Market’, was led by the Phuket Provincial Employment Office in cooperation with the Phuket Provincial Police Investigation Unit.
Officials inspected Downtown Market and Public Market 2 (Agricultural Market) in Phuket Town after receiving complaints that foreign workers were engaged in retail trading, an occupation restricted under Thai law.
During the operation, officers detained a Myanmar woman suspected of illegally trading at the market. She was taken for document verification and legal proceedings.
However, officials found that several businesses named in complaints were closed at the time of the inspection. Authorities believe some operators may have been aware of the raid in advance and did not open their shops, preventing a full investigation.
The operation was observed by Tae Achiwa, leader of the ‘Thai Mai Tonn’ (‘Thai People Don’t Tolerate’) group, who said the raid was carried out in cooperation with the Employment Office and Provincial Police to support law enforcement and protect businesses operating legally.
He said the closure of some shops would not stop future inspections and that the group would continue working with authorities to investigate allegations of foreigners working in occupations reserved for Thai citizens.
Officials said they will expand the investigation to other businesses that have been the subject of complaints and will continue checking workers’ employment status and work permits. They added that action will be taken against both illegal workers and employers found to have violated the law, with further inspections planned in high-risk areas across Phuket.