Transcript of the above video: 

Not often I make a video like this with an ALERT signature on it but I think this is worth pointing out; this is pertinent for those who are expats here. I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from the Thai Examiner that is thaiexaminer.com, the article is titled: Sex, drugs, business and work abuses linked to expats targeted this week by police raids on Koh Phangan. Okay, understand, the reason for the ALERT. I think this is broad. This doesn't just have to do with the islands; this doesn't just have to do with Surat Thani and the tourism areas. I think that there is a broad Crackdown going on against foreigners, especially those working illegally in Thailand. 

Quoting directly: "The next day" - and I urge those who are watching this video go check out that article in the Thai Examiner. There is a bunch of different anecdotal evidence of foreigners being arrested, being detained, being deported for various activities. That said, this pertains especially to work. Quoting directly: "The next day, November 8, Tourist Police and District Officers detained two more foreign nationals in Si Thanu village. The suspects were identified as Viacheslav, 29, from Ukraine, and Ramis, 26, from Azerbaijan. Both were accused of illegally working as electrical contractors. The arrest took place at a housing development in Moo 8. Authorities had been monitoring the site for several days. They observed the suspects driving a white Ford Ranger to buy materials and transport them to the project. When confronted, both men denied the allegations. They claimed to be tourists and shouted at the officers." - yeah good idea; how did that work out? Oh, we'll see. Quoting further: "However, police discovered receipts for building materials, electrical tools, and detailed project diagrams in their vehicle." Quoting further: "During a search, officers found more evidence. They seized 14 rolls of yellow conduit pipes, 40 junction boxes, 10 rigid pipes, wiring and several power tools. In addition, investigators found printed blueprints of the homes under construction." - Well that's pretty compelling evidence - Quoting further: "A Thai Foreman identified only as Mr. A confirmed the two foreigners were contractors hired by the project owner. He said they were responsible for the electrical installation and visited the site daily. Faced with mounting evidence, both men confessed." Quoting further: "They admitted to performing electrical and engineer" - excuse me - "and interior decoration work without permits. They also acknowledge completing similar jobs elsewhere on the island. Consequently, they were charged with jointly operating a business without permission and working as foreigners without valid Work Permits. Both suspects were transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for prosecution. According to Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Puek-am, the arrests form part of a continuing campaign." Let's state that again; this is the reason for the ALERT - "continuing campaign" - He said inspections will intensify across Koh Phangan, Koh Samui and Koh Tao. Moreover, authorities aim to eliminate unlicensed foreign workers in occupations reserved for Thai citizens." This is an across-the-board initiative; this is not just pertaining to one geographic area in Thailand. If you are a foreigner, you wish to come to Thailand and work, you have to be work authorized. It's not necessarily possible to be work authorized for everything in Thailand. The construction trades are a seriously restricted occupation here in Thailand. Even if these two had had Work Permits, I expect they would probably be still being charged with some form of infraction just based on the fact that they were engaging in construction which is considered a restricted occupation here in Thailand. 

Again, the reason for the ALERT. As pointed out by the Tourist Police Commissioner Lt. Gen. Saksira Pruek-am, the arrests form part of a continuing campaign. This is policy. It is being carried out across the board nationally here in Thailand. If you are a foreigner and you want to work, you need to get work authorization and be in correct work authorization in order to operate legally here in the Kingdom. Those who are not, are probably increasingly going to find themselves subject of law enforcement scrutiny, possible action, possible arrest, possible detention, possible deportation and even blacklisting from the Kingdom of Thailand.