Photo: Kindel Media / Pexels
Chinese national "Wang", 55, was arrested in Phuket on Wednesday, 14 October 2026, after overstaying his visa by 1,793 days, nearly five years. Immigration officers found him in a secluded rental room near Kata Hill in Karon after a tip-off. Items seized there are being examined as part of a wider investigation. The Immigration Bureau report also alleges he fled China to avoid charges linked to an illegal gambling den. The case came a day after a Portuguese woman was arrested in Phuket for a 1,807-day overstay.
What happened
Officers arrested Wang at about 11am on Wednesday, 14 October 2026. He was in a single-storey rental room in a wooded area near Kata Hill, Karon. The room is reached by a steep, dead-end road. The arrest followed a tip-off about a Chinese national suspected of overstaying.
He was taken to the Phuket Immigration Office to verify his identity. After that he was handed to investigators for further legal proceedings.
His immigration history
Records show Wang entered Thailand on 2 April 2019 on a Thailand Privilege Card visa. His initial permission to stay expired on 31 March 2020. He later received an extension to 16 November 2021. There is no record of any further extension, and no record of him leaving Thailand. That adds up to the 1,793 days of overstay.
What was seized
Officers found the following items:
- A Thai bank passbook
- Passports and Chinese ID cards belonging to other people
- Five mobile phones
- Four knives
These are being examined as part of a wider investigation.
The gambling allegation
The Immigration Bureau report says Wang fled China to avoid charges linked to running an illegal gambling den. No details of that case were given, and no arrest warrant was mentioned. The article contains no direct quotes from officials or from Wang. It paraphrases the Immigration Bureau report and cites The Phuket News.
A second arrest the day before
On 13 October, a Portuguese woman with a 1,807-day overstay was arrested in Phuket. Officers found her at a restaurant, where she was attending a cooking lesson.
What this means for visitors
- Tip-offs lead to arrests. Immigration is finding long-term overstayers this way, and these two Phuket arrests came on consecutive days.
- Hiding doesn't work. Overstayers were tracked down both in a remote rental and at an ordinary public place like a restaurant.
- Extensions don't roll over. Once an extension ends, you need a new one or you must leave. Records are checked.
- Other people's documents are a red flag. Holding someone else's passport or ID can draw police attention. This case shows a link between overstay and wider criminal investigations.
- Know your end date. Track when your permitted stay ends, and extend or leave before it lapses. Overstaying can bring arrest, detention, and legal proceedings.
The original article does not cover specific fines, penalties, re-entry bans, or the overstay rules that apply.
Related coverage
The Thaiger also listed these related stories:
- A South Korean fugitive found overstaying for more than 8 years
- Long-stay visa checks helped uncover a Thai scam network (39 arrested)
- A Chinese ex-bank manager held in Pattaya after 7 years of overstay
- Thailand LTR visa approvals topping 12,000 after four years
Information sourced from The Thaiger.