NONTHABURI, THAILAND – Immigration officers detained three Chinese nationals and a Myanmar man after uncovering an alleged illegal trade in religious Thai amulets at a local shopping mall.
Raid on mall stalls in Ngamwongwan
Immigration officers raided a shopping mall in the Ngamwongwan area on Friday, 12 December, following complaints from the public. They found two stalls where the suspects openly bought and sold Thai amulets and gold and silver cases for the items. Two Chinese men, identified only by the aliases Ming (35) and Zhang (40), were in Thailand on 60-day tourist visas and had no permission to work.
Student visa holder and helper accused
A second stall was operated by another Chinese man who called himself Wang, who held a student visa but also lacked a work permit. Working at Wang’s stall was 29-year-old Min Oo from Myanmar, whose visa had already expired and who also had no work authorisation. Authorities confirmed that Min Oo was employed by Wang.
Multiple charges and threat of blacklisting
All three Chinese nationals were charged with working without permission, while the Myanmar worker faced an additional charge for overstaying his visa. Wang also faced an extra accusation for hiring a foreigner without the required documents. The suspects were transferred to Rattanathibet Police Station, where Police Colonel Suriya Puangsombat issued a strong warning over such offences.
“These actions constitute work without permission, a criminal offence under the Royal Decree on the Management of Foreign Workers.”
said Suriya Puangsombat, investigation chief.
Heavy fines and possible entry ban
Penalties for illegal work ranged from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, while employers hiring foreign workers without authorisation faced fines of 10,000 to 100,000 baht. After criminal proceedings, immigration authorities were to consider placing the offenders on a blacklist, which would mean a ban on re-entering Thailand. The case was intended to send a clear signal to those disregarding Thai labour and immigration laws.
Concerns over misuse of religious trade
The incident highlighted what officials described as a growing problem of foreigners using Thailand not for tourism or study, but for illegal business. The trade in religious amulets was seen as particularly sensitive due to its spiritual significance.
“Faithful buyers trust in the authenticity and spiritual power of these objects. When foreigners without expertise pretend to be experts, it is a double fraud.”
said a cultural law expert.
Police urge public to report suspicious activity
Police called on the public to report suspicious activities involving unlicensed traders and possible immigration violations. This operation against alleged illegal dealers was presented as a clear message to those who ignore Thai laws and disrespect the country’s cultural assets. Authorities stressed that protecting religious symbols and enforcing regulations went hand in hand in such cases.