The arrest was carried out at 10:35am yesterday (May 21) in the parking area outside the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Station in Tak Daed, Mueang Phang Nga, in a joint operation by Phuket Tourist Police and officials from the Southern Region 2 Branch Office of Tourism Business and Tour Guide Registration.
According to the report, officers launched an investigation after receiving information that a foreign national was illegally working as a tour guide in the province.
During surveillance, officers observed the suspect providing information to tourists and assisting a tour group visiting Wat Tham Suwan Khuha before accompanying the group to the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Station.
Authorities said brochures containing tour programmes and a list of tour participants were found in his possession.
Checks of his documents revealed that the man had entered Thailand on a tourist visa and did not hold either a valid work permit or a Thai tour guide licence.
He was subsequently charged with acting as a tour guide without a licence and working in Thailand without a work permit.
Tourist Police said the operation formed part of an ongoing crackdown on illegal activities by foreign nationals that affect the tourism industry, in line with national policy targeting crime involving foreigners in major tourist destinations.