Six Foreign Staff Detained in Phuket Russian Kindergarten Raid

Authorities in Phuket have detained six foreign women following an inspection at a kindergarten catering to Russian-speaking families in the Rawai area.

The facility, known as Litti Kids, was among several businesses checked during a broader operation targeting companies suspected of using Thai nominees to bypass restrictions under Thailand’s Foreign Business Act. However, the arrests were primarily linked to possible violations of labor regulations rather than ownership structures.

Details of the inspection appeared in the full report released by Phuket police regarding the crackdown on foreign-operated businesses. A shorter statement published earlier by the public relations office mentioned the kindergarten but did not include information about any detentions.

Police did not disclose the names or nationalities of the women involved, but confirmed that they were unable to present valid work permits during the inspection. The official name of the employing company was also not revealed.

Under Thailand’s foreign employment laws, both employees and employers are held accountable for unauthorized work. Foreign workers without permits face fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, followed by deportation. Employers, in turn, can be fined between 10,000 and 100,000 baht per illegal worker and may be barred from hiring foreign staff for up to three years in case of repeat offenses.

The police statement also indicated that businesses linked to the Russian-speaking community were a key focus of the operation. Out of eight companies inspected, at least half were reportedly managed by Russian-speaking individuals or targeted that market segment.

In addition to the kindergarten, authorities examined several other businesses, including real estate agency Seven Home in Cherng Talay and multiple motorbike rental companies such as CUTANA Rental in Kamala, ThaiGoRent in Karon, and another unnamed operator in Wichit. No arrests were reported in those cases, though investigations into possible nominee arrangements are ongoing.