BANGKOK — Immigration officials have investigated a Tanzanian national who was involved in illegal business in Thailand. He pretended to be an influential figure by requesting photos with foreign heads of state or VIP delegations visiting Thailand to boost his image.
On September 12, an Immigration Police investigation team led by Pol. Col. Kajaphon Pathamang, head of the Investigation Unit, together with the Thonburi Task Force arrested Mr. Mohamed, a 41-year-old Tanzanian national, on charges of “employing illegal foreign labor (selling goods in a store)” and Mr. Amar, a 39-year-old Syrian national, on charges of “working outside the permitted rights (selling goods in a store)”
The two were arrested at a clothing store in the basement of Baiyoke Sky Tower on Ratchaprarop Road, Phaya Thai District, Ratchathewi, Bangkok, owned by Mr. Mohamed.
Police began monitoring Mr. Mohamed after an incident in which he tried to meet with a Tanzanian minister, who was part of a VIP delegation, in the lobby of a hotel in the Sukhumvit district to take a photo. When security forces prevented him from doing so, he fled the scene.
Upon further investigation, the authorities determined that he was a dangerous person who had been physically assaulted several times in the past. He was also involved in trafficking Tanzanian women for prostitution and sending money back to his country after deducting commissions. Mr. Mohamed, who speaks fluent Thai, was also found to have several wives and children.
Mr. Mohamed runs a garment store in the Pratunam area and a factory in Bang Bon district. The authorities raided his clothing store, where they found both Mr. Mohamed and his employee, Mr. Amar. When they demanded their identity documents, they were found to be in Thailand on a business visa (Non-B) through a company called Turbo General Trading Co, Ltd, where Mr. Mohamed worked as a store manager. The suspects were then taken to Phaya Thai Police Station for further investigation.
The investigation was later widened and the authorities found that Mr. Mohamed had smuggled foreign nationals into Thailand and employed them at a screen printing business house operated by SK Export Co., Ltd. in Soi Phra Ya Monthat, Bang Bon district, Bangkok, where Mr. Mohamed was the managing director.
During the raid, the authorities found nine Myanmar nationals working at the premises. Upon checking their passports, it was found that one person’s visa expired on February 13, 2023 and was overstayed by 577 days, while another visa expired on April 29, 2024 and was overstayed by 135 days.
In addition, seven other Myanmar nationals were found to have entered Thailand illegally and did not have a work permit. These individuals were paid 2,100 baht per week in cash and had been living in the building for about four months.
The authorities accused the foreign workers of overstaying their visas” and “working without work permits and accused Mr. Mohamed, the company’s managing director, of “employing foreigners without work permits All suspects were handed over to Thakham police station for further legal action.
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