Bangkok (VNA) – Phuket authorities, in association with foreign consulates, are ramping up immigration checks and crackdowns on illegal activities following a surge in the number of drug-related crimes and foreigners working illegally on the southern island of Thailand.
Last year, 194 foreigners in Phuket had their visas rescinded, and 998 faced deportation for criminal activities, mostly drug-related and working without a proper visa, said Pol Col Kriangkrai Ariyaying, chief of Phuket's immigration police.
The province's immigration office now meets international consular officials once every two months, he said.
Arrivals must not have any outstanding arrest warrants or be on any blacklists, and they are responsible for proving they have sufficient money with them and a clear itinerary, Kriangkrai stated, adding that authorities are taking more measures to verify their places of stay and crack down on any attempts to work illegally.
Many foreigners have been caught working illegally as tour guides in Phuket and could be deported or banned from re-entering Thailand permanently.
The public is also being encouraged to help police watch out for signs of criminal activities linked to foreigners in Phuket and report any suspicious incidents to authorities, he said.
In January alone, about 800,000 foreign tourists arrived on the island, while the number of foreigners staying there on year-long visas is put at 36,000.
Tourists are advised to download the Thai tourist police mobile app, which is available in six languages, to be located and contacted immediately if they need help. Phuket provincial police have also set up a centre to assist tourists, with most of the cases reported so far involving traffic accidents./.
