Immigration Officers Bust Illegal Foreign Dive Instructors on Koh Tao
Immigration authorities arrested six foreign dive instructors and other undocumented workers on Koh Tao during a crackdown on illegal employment, including Spanish and British nationals using tourist visas.
Immigration authorities in Surat Thani province, working with investigative units and related agencies, conducted an enforcement operation against illegal foreign workers on Koh Tao in Koh Phangan district on August 20. Officers raided four locations: two dive companies, one pharmacy, and one beauty salon, arresting foreign nationals ranging from dive instructors to workers taking jobs reserved for Thai citizens.
The operation followed directives from senior police officials. Immigration officers found six foreign nationals working as unlicensed dive instructors, including one British man identified as Adam and five Spanish nationals: Xabier, Pablo, Paulina, Sandra, and Nuria. All were using DTV (digital nomad) visas but illegally took positions teaching diving. Authorities are investigating company executives and examining financial records for possible nominee involvement.
At a pharmacy, officers arrested a Myanmar national, Cha Chi Lin, for selling herbal medicines without pharmacist supervision in violation of work permit conditions. At a beauty salon on Sai Ree Beach, two Myanmar women, Sin Sin Miao and Tin Tin Wei, were arrested for performing nail services—work restricted to Thai nationals—despite their permits authorizing only general labor. All suspects were transferred to Koh Tao police for legal proceedings. Statistics show 47 foreign nationals arrested for labor violations in Koh Tao from January through August 2025 under various laws including the Alien Occupation Act, Immigration Act, and narcotics laws.
