Chonburi immigration officers have investigated the residence of foreigners who were using children to sell flowers, creating disturbances among tourists in popular areas of Pattaya.
Following reports of foreigners illegally selling flowers and other goods in busy tourist spots, such as Walking Street in South Pattaya, officers traced their activities to an apartment in Moo 10, Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi. At 6:00 AM on November 15, a raid was carried out.
During the operation, authorities discovered 19 foreign nationals living at the location: 10 adults (9 Vietnamese and 1 Laotian) and 9 children (all Vietnamese). They were taken to the Chonburi Immigration Office for questioning. Upon investigation, police charged all the Vietnamese nationals with “working or being employed without authorization” while holding temporary visitor permits. They were fined, and their permits were processed for revocation. The individuals will be sent to Immigration Police Division 3 for deportation.
Additionally, Thai national Mr. Anek Prasomrat, the apartment caretaker, was arrested for failing to report the foreign residents within the required 24-hour period, as mandated by law.
This crackdown is part of a broader effort to combat foreign criminal activity and human trafficking, which have been identified as key priorities by the Thai government. Police General Kitt Ratt Panpetch, the National Police Chief, has emphasized the importance of strict enforcement of immigration laws and has warned that any officer found involved in misconduct will face severe consequences.
