Transcript of the above video: 

As the title of this video suggests, we are discussing it now appears that the Thai Police - we did one where we talked about how they dressed up as lion dancers - then there was another one recently where a guy posed as a gardener and arrested a foreigner. Now we have got a situation where they are posing as tourists. 

I thought of making this video after reading a recent article from Khaosod English, that is khaosodenglishenglish.com, the article is titled: Tourist Police pose as tourists to arrest illegal guide in Chiang Mai. Quoting directly: "Tourist police arrested a Myanmar National accused of operating an illegal tour business after officers went undercover as Mexican tourists during an operation at a popular temple in Chiang Mai." I would love to know the context of all this. Like how they came up with are they going to be Mexican tourists? Is it because they spoke Spanish? I would love to know how this brainchild came into their minds, but here we go. Quoting further: "The operation was carried out under the direction of Pol Maj Gen Olar Iamprapas, Commander of the Tourist Police Division 2 and Pol Col Phitsanu Triamdee, Superintendent of Division 2 with investigators from Tourist Police Station 1 taking part in the arrest. Police charged the suspect with multiple offenses including: 

• Operating a tourist business without a license under the Tourism Business and Tourist Guide Act (2008). 
• Working as a tourist guide without a valid license. 
• Using a vehicle for purposes other than those specified in its registration under the Motor Vehicle Act (1979). 
• Working as a foreign national without a Work Permit or outside the scope of authorized employment.  - Now here's an important point to take from this video. Even if this person had had a Work Permit, operating as a tour guide is a restricted occupation restricted only to nationals in Thailand; it's important to point that out. Quoting further:
• Operating a business in violation of the Foreign Business Act. 

Following the arrest, the suspect was handed over to investigators at Muang Chiang Mai Police Station for legal proceedings. Tourist Police said they would continue cracking down on unlicensed tour operators and illegal tourist guides to strengthen confidence in Thailand's Tourism Industry and raise service standards. According to local reports, Officers successfully carried out the operation after disguising themselves as Mexican tourists before apprehending the suspect inside the historic temple." 

And again, I would like to know like how do you describe yourself as a Mexican tourists? Is it just like a Spanish thing, do you have to put on a sombrero or something? I mean I'm very curious to know that. This isn't exactly taking things lightly, but what I can't figure out like the logic chain that got you there. I just kind of want to know more context but that's what happened. So they posed as tourists, they went on a “guided tour” with this person and then arrested them for engaging in restricted occupations, as well as the other charges listed in there. 

What is this meant to show? Yet again, clearly Thai Law enforcement is taking a proactive position now, especially on working illegally. I don't think that this is going to end anytime soon. In fact as I've discussed in other videos, I think we are going to see more of this as the year rolls on; in fact into the next year I suspect as well. There has been a paradigm shift within Thailand. Immigration is now viewed as a national security concern. On top of that, this new Parliament that has been convened, a very different animal to many of the Parliaments we have seen basically over the 20 years I have been here. I don't see it going anywhere anytime soon, and it seems very, very concerned with matters pertaining to national sovereignty, not least of which being foreign nationals coming to Thailand illegally in order to work illegally. 

How all of this plays out remains to be seen, but we will certainly be keeping folks updated on this channel as the situation evolves.