Police to investigate ''all Nigerians'' in Thailand over connection with criminal activities after arrest of 72 foreigners

Tourist police plan to visit 1,400 Nigerians in Thailand next week to check that they have no connection with criminal activities, deputy tourist police chief Pol Maj Gen Surachet Hakpal said on Friday, August 10.

He said the measure is necessary for preventing criminals from coming to use Thailand as a base for illegal activities.

Seventy-two foreigners including Nigerians, were arrested on Thursday for allegedly overstaying their visa and other charges after tourist police and other agencies searched 75 locations across Thailand.

Surachet also urged members of the public to call the Tourist Police Bureau 1155 hotline if they detect foreigners involved in suspicious activities.

Speaking during a press conference at Chana Songkram police station to announce the result of the 20th “X-ray Outlaw Foreigner” Operation, Surachet, said 11 foreigners were arrested for allegedly overstaying their visa and 46 for entering the kingdom illegally. He added that 15 other foreigners were arrested on other charges.

He said 34 similar operations have been carried out so far and 4,159 targeted areas have been searched, netting 1,904 foreigners.

He said more than 2,000 foreigners have been blacklisted as persona non-grata.

In the latest operation, police checked three international schools, two English language schools and 13 normal schools as well as 57 other areas.