The operation, carried out yesterday (June 25), saw authorities inspect markets and businesses in Patong following complaints that foreigners were working illegally in occupations reserved for Thai citizens.
The latest enforcement action came just two days after authorities detained 22 foreign workers during a raid on a construction project in Chalong, where investigators also launched a probe into suspected nominee business structures.
Vice Governor Khetarat led the June 25 operation alongside Phuket Provincial Police Commander Pol Maj Gen Sinlert Sukhum, Deputy Director of the Phuket branch of the Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC) Rear Adm Praphan Srisuwipa, and officers from the Provincial Police, Tourist Police, Immigration Office, Provincial Employment Office and other agencies.
Authorities targeted Malin Plaza, SB Night Market and Patong Beach following complaints that foreigners were illegally working as vendors and in other occupations reserved for Thai nationals.
Speaking after the inspections, Vice Governor Khetarat said the operation followed numerous complaints from residents about foreigners allegedly taking jobs away from Thai workers.
District officials had been instructed to work with security agencies to inspect businesses and establishments suspected of employing foreigners illegally or operating in violation of Thai law in order to ensure fairness, enforce the law and maintain public confidence, he said.
When inspection teams arrived, several shops were already closed while many of those still operating were staffed by Thai nationals.
However, Pol Maj Gen Sinlert said officers inspected about 1,000 people during the first half of the day, detecting 39 offences, with a target of inspecting 2,000 people by the end of the operation.
He said the inspections were intended both to deter illegal activity and identify offenders, adding that the campaign would continue daily rather than be a one-off operation.
Regarding the Patong inspections, Pol Maj Gen Sinlert said they followed complaints that some market vendors appeared to be foreigners. While officers found that most vendors were Thai, some foreign nationals were found working illegally and were arrested.
The Phuket Provincial Employment Office reported that since October last year authorities have inspected 330 businesses and 4,760 foreign workers, resulting in legal action against 46 employers and 179 foreign workers. Most offences involved foreigners working without permits or working outside the scope of their authorised employment.
Pol Maj Gen Sinlert added that Phuket currently has about 140,000 registered foreign workers. Since October 2025, more than 2,000 foreigners have been arrested for offences including illegal employment, drug offences and traffic violations.
Vice Governor Khetarat also highlighted Tuesday’s raid on the Larimar Villa Phuket construction project in Chalong, where authorities detained 22 foreign workers ‒ 19 Chinese nationals and three Myanmar nationals ‒ who were unable to produce work permits or identification documents.
He said the case reflected what authorities described as a growing pattern of Chinese nationals being employed in construction and supervisory roles. Investigators are examining company ownership structures, shareholders and funding sources to determine whether nominee arrangements were being used to conceal foreign control of businesses.
Authorities have dubbed the practice “zero-dollar construction”, alleging that some projects import Chinese engineers, labourers and even building materials while employing few, if any, Thai workers or suppliers.
“The investigation will not stop with the workers,” Vice Governor Khetarat said. “We want to identify those behind these operations.”
Rear Adm Praphan said Phuket welcomed foreigners who entered Thailand legally for tourism or employment, but warned that authorities would take firm legal action against anyone found involved in illegal immigration, unauthorised employment or nominee business arrangements.
He also urged residents and the media to report suspicious activities to assist authorities in protecting employment opportunities for Thai citizens and maintaining Phuket as a safe tourist destination.
ARRIVED
Pol Lt Col Khetarat took up his post as Phuket Vice Governor on June 16 after being transferred from his post as Vice Governor of Samut Sakhon.
However, while serving as a vice governor in Phuket, he is also serving as Acting Security Advisor to Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Interior Arsit Samphantharat, a role that places him within the ministry’s senior security structure.
That places him in close proximity to Anutin Charnvirakul, who while serving as Prime Minister, continues to serve as Minister of Interior ‒ a post he has held for the past eight years, concurrently through four administrations.
Since arriving in Phuket, Pol Lt Col Khetarat has quickly emerged as the public face of an intensified enforcement campaign targeting illegal foreign workers, suspected nominee businesses and foreign-controlled construction projects under what officials have termed the ‘Phuket Model’.
The latest inspections form part of a broader enforcement campaign launched this month.
On June 17, employment officials arrested a South Sudanese man found working without a permit at a restaurant in Thalang.
The following day, authorities arrested 68 foreign workers during an inspection of a condominium construction project in Cherng Talay, including 56 Myanmar nationals and 12 Chinese nationals accused of labour law violations.
The Department of Employment also joined Royal Thai Police and other agencies in a province-wide operation on June 20 targeting foreign business offences and suspected nominee networks.