Uzbek man nabbed at Phuket Airport for overstaying visa

Photo courtesy of Phuket Airport Immigration via The Phuket News

A 21 year old Uzbek national found himself in hot water after being arrested at Phuket International Airport for overstaying his visa by six days.

The arrest took place on Wednesday morning, January 29 at around 10.30am, as immigration officers and local police swooped in on the suspect at the international passenger terminal. The operation was led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Akkaraphon Kaewkiattiyot of the Suppression Investigation Unit (ChP.3), under the directive of Pol. Col. Atisak Panya, Superintendent of the Immigration Division 2.

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According to a brief report released by Phuket Airport Immigration, the suspect—whose name was not disclosed—was taken into custody and immediately transferred to Sakhu Police Station for further legal proceedings.

Thailand enforces strict immigration laws, with even minor visa overstays carrying penalties ranging from fines to potential blacklisting or deportation. Visitors caught overstaying for less than 90 days typically face a fine of 500 baht per day but failure to pay can result in detention.

Police continue to ramp up enforcement at major airports and border checkpoints, keeping a close watch on foreigners violating visa conditions, reported The Phuket News.

With increased scrutiny on overstayers, this arrest serves as a stark reminder that even a few extra days in paradise can land you in serious legal trouble.

Travellers are advised to check their visa status carefully and ensure timely renewals or extensions to avoid facing similar consequences.

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In September last year, a Frenchman was arrested in Krabi after a visa overstay of eight years. The Frenchman entered Thailand on February 19, 2016, with a tourist visa that expired on May 18, 2016. After the visa’s expiration, Didier continued to stay in Thailand, resulting in a total overstay of 3,032 days.

In another overstay incident, Thai police arrested three Maldivian nationals linked to a notorious gang, wanted for attempted murder, and overstaying their visas. The men were captured in Bangkok following a high-stakes operation on Ramkhamhaeng Road.

Crime NewsPhuket NewsThailand News

Puntid Tantivangphaisal

Originally from Hong Kong, Puntid moved to Bangkok in 2020 to pursue further studies in translation. She holds a Bachelor's degree in Comparative Literature from the University of Hong Kong. Puntid spent 8 years living in Manchester, UK. Before joining The Thaiger, Puntid has been a freelance translator for 2 years. In her free time, she enjoys swimming and listening to music, as well as writing short fiction and poetry.

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