‘All Nigerians’ in Thailand to be investigated over connection with criminal activities

The Thailand Police has announced that it will be visiting about 1,400 Nigerians in the country next week, to confirm that they have no connection with criminal activities. 

Deputy tourist police chief Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal who announced this on Friday, August 10, said the measure is necessary for preventing criminals from coming to use Thailand as a base for illegal activities.

Surachet who urged members of the public to call the Tourist Police Bureau 1155 hotline if they detect foreigners involved in suspicious activities, also disclosed that Seventy-two foreigners including Nigerians, were arrested on Thursday for allegedly overstaying their visa among other charges after tourist police and other agencies searched 75 locations across Thailand.

According to him, 11 foreigners were arrested for allegedly overstaying their visa and 46 for entering the kingdom illegally, while 15 other foreigners were arrested on other charges. 

Speaking during a press conference at Chana Songkram police station to announce the result of the 20th “X-ray Outlaw Foreigner” Operation Surachet said 34 similar operations have been carried out so far and 4,159 targeted areas have been searched, netting 1,904 foreigners.

Three international schools, two English language schools and 13 normal schools as well as 57 other areas have been checked by the police in its latest operation, and more than 2,000 foreigners have been blacklisted as persona non-grata.