Russian, Estonian Workers Among Those Swept Up in Koh Phangan Raid

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Tourist Police arrest Russian, Estonian nationals at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan, on Jan. 29, 2025.

KOH PHANGANFollowing orders from Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuek-am, authorities have intensified their crackdown on illegal foreign workers on Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Province, particularly targeting those working in occupations reserved for Thai nationals.

On January 29, Tourist Police arrested two foreign nationals at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan: Vladimir, a 61-year-old Russian national, and Janus, a 50-year-old Estonian citizen. They were caught working illegally as a welder and carpenter respectively – both professions restricted to Thai citizens. Officers seized various equipment including an electric welding machine, electric grinder, pneumatic nail gun, and air compressor.

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Tourist Police detain two foreign nationals, one Russian (left) and one Estonian (right), at a construction site in Moo 1, Koh Phangan, on Jan. 29, 2025.

Vladimir admitted to working without a permit as a welder, performing exterior steel framework modifications using power tools, earning 1,000 baht per day. Similarly, Janus confessed to working without authorization as a carpenter on exterior building modifications, also earning 1,000 baht daily.

In a separate operation on January 28, authorities raided the Koh Phangan International Church in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, where they discovered an unauthorized school operation. The facility housed over 190 Myanmar children and employed four Myanmar teachers without proper work permits.

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Immigration officers and police from Phangan Police Station in Surat Thani Province raid the Koh Phangan International Church in Moo 4, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Koh Phangan District, Surat Thani Province on Jan. 29, 2025.

The teachers revealed that the school charged 300-500 baht monthly per student, serving children of Myanmar laborers working on the island.

The foreign workers face fines between 5,000-50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on work permit applications. Their employers could face penalties ranging from 10,000-100,000 baht per illegal worker, with repeat offenders risking up to one year imprisonment, fines of 50,000-200,000 baht per worker, or both, plus a three-year ban on employing foreign workers.

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