Phuket –
Two male and female illegal Russian tour guides were arrested in Rawai and Karon on Wednesday (April 3rd).
The Phuket Tourist Police told the Phuket Express that they first arrested a suspect identified only as Mr. IURII, 37, Russian national, at a parking area at the Phrom Thep Cape in Rawai. Officers followed Mr. IURII after one tourist police officer noticed the suspect appearing to lead a tour group of about eight foreign tourists traveling in a minivan from the Karon Viewpoint to the Phrom Thep Cape. He was taken to the Chalong Police Station after he could not produce a work permit or work visa.
Then officers arrested a suspect identified only as MS. ULIIA, 21, Russian national, at the Phuket Big Buddha (Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Ek Nakkhiri) on the Nakkerd Hill in Karon. Officers followed MS. ULIIA after spotting her appearing to be working near an elephant camp in Chalong with 18 foreign tourists traveling in two minivans to the Phuket Big Buddha. She was taken to the Karon Police Station after also being unable to produce proper documentation.
They are facing charges of being an illegal tour guide as well as being a foreigner doing a protected job (tour guide). 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.
