Immigration police arrested a Myanmar national who was working at two cannabis shops at Kata Beach, Phuket, on 16 July 2026.[1] Officers inspected two cannabis shops in the Kata Beach area and found a Thai national and a Myanmar national at one of the premises.[1] Police said the Myanmar man was selling cannabis to customers in front of the shop and serving customers inside the premises.[1] He was arrested on three charges: working without a permit, working outside the conditions of his permitted employment, and selling food without proper labelling.[1]
The raids began at about 10pm after investigators from Immigration Division 6 received a tip-off that foreigners were working at cannabis shops without the required permits.[1] Police seized more than 40 items, including cannabis products, with a total estimated value of more than 500,000 baht.[1] The seized items have been handed over for forensic examination and will be used as evidence in further legal proceedings.[1]
The operation was conducted by investigators from Immigration Division 6 following orders from senior Immigration Bureau officials as part of an ongoing nationwide campaign targeting foreigners working illegally, transnational crime networks and businesses suspected of using Thai nominees to circumvent Thai law.[1] Phuket Immigration told The Phuket Express that the crackdown was part of a nationwide policy to root out foreign nationals who enter Thailand illegally, evade prosecution abroad, or engage in unlawful work using Thai nominees.[2] Immigration police said the investigation will now be expanded to identify the actual operators behind the business, including any Thai or foreign nationals suspected of using nominee arrangements to conceal ownership.[1] Authorities also said they would coordinate with relevant agencies to verify whether the cannabis shops were operating with the required licences.[1] Police have not released the identities of those arrested or disclosed the names of the cannabis shops involved.[1]
