Surat Thani –
Five Illegal Myanmar tour guides were arrested on Pha Ngan Island on Thursday (May 23rd).
Surat Thani Immigration told the Phuket Express that they received complaints that there were many illegal Myanmar tour guides on Samui Island. Surat Thani officers pretended to be customers buying tour packages on two tour boats. The boats departed from Samui Island to Tao Island (Turtle Island).
Myanmar nationals on the tour boats explained tour programs to customers and tour boats stopped at small islands to let customers enjoy snorkeling while they were being serviced by illegal Myanmar tour guides.
Officers finally arrested five illegal Myanmar tour guides after they collected evidence. The suspects were taken to the Koh Tao Police Station in the Koh Pha Ngan district to face charges of being illegal tour guides.
The Phuket Express notes that tour guides are a protected occupation in Thailand and that work permits and visas are unavailable to foreigners for this job.
