Thailand raids Koh Phangan school and arrests 9 for unlicensed operations

Inside the Koh Phangan raid

Thai police raided a licensed childcare centre run by Arki Kids Co Ltd in Moo 3, Koh Phangan on May 1, finding 89 Israeli children aged 2 to 12 on a permit cleared for just 18 children aged 2 to 6, according to The Nation Thailand. Inspectors say the operators used the nursery licence to mask a foreign-run primary school that never cleared the Provincial Education Office.

Nine people were arrested: a 61-year-old Thai woman and two Iranian nationals listed as owners, plus six foreign teachers from the United States, South Africa, France and elsewhere. Officials also found 52 additional foreign workers on site, including 40 Myanmar nationals, some of whom reportedly fled during the operation. Tuition at the centre ran around 64,000 baht per child per semester, per The Media Line.

Charges include operating an unlicensed private school, breaching the Child Protection Act, employing foreigners without work permits and failing to notify authorities of foreign hires within 15 days. The Koh Phangan district chief has requested temporary suspension of the centre.

Who's now in the crosshairs

Labour Minister Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn ordered nationwide inspections of foreign workers in direct response to the raid, Thai Examiner reported. The Labour Ministry said enforcement "will continue without interruption", with checks already underway in provinces with high concentrations of foreign-run businesses.

Long-stay families on Koh Phangan, Phuket and Chiang Mai who rely on informal daycares, foreign-run "learning hubs" or community schools operating under childcare, church or charity licences face the highest exposure. The January 2025 raid on Coolscool, another Koh Phangan centre, ended with a Ukrainian man charged for overstaying his visa by 1,086 days.

Remote workers mixing tourist-class entry with informal teaching, volunteering or business activity are also flagged in the ministry's expanded scope.

What parents and workers should check

• Confirm any school or daycare holds both a childcare licence and, for children over 6, approval from the Provincial Education Office.
• Foreign teachers and caregivers need a valid work permit tied to the specific employer, role and address on file.
• Work-permit holders must report changes of employer or workplace within 15 days or face charges.
• Anyone overstaying a visa should resolve status before inspections reach their area.

Read our full Thailand guide for the complete picture or browse more visa updates.