115 illegals held in raids on wat fair

CHALONG: The annual fair at Wat Chalong has proved a bonanza for officers targeting illegal immigrants. In the first two days – Tuesday and yesterday – 115 Burmese were arrested, and there are four more days to go. “There are many construction camps in the area, and the fair is famous among the Burmese,” explained Pol Col Abhirak Hongtong, superintendent of Phuket Immigration Police. He added that officials will continue to search for illegals until the event ends next Monday. The Burmese caught over the past two days were taken to the Immigration Office in Phuket Town where their arrests were entered in the records. This afternoon they were sent to Ranong for expulsion into Burma. The raids are a combined effort involving officers from the Phuket Immigration Office, Chalong Police Station and the Security Affairs Branch.