Bangkok —
On July 22nd, 2024, Ms. Traisulee Traisanakul, the Secretary to the Thai Minister of the Interior, reported that Deputy Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul ordered the removal of a Chinese-language billboard advertising passports and citizenship for various countries at Huai Khwang intersection in Bangkok.
Anutin has mandated an immediate investigation to verify the legality of the advertisements and the legitimacy of the businesses involved. The findings will be transparently shared with the public. If illegal activities are found, strict legal action will be taken, said Traisulee.
Traisulee emphasized the government’s dual focus on boosting tourism while preventing criminal activities disguised as tourism.
The Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA) found that the billboard, posted on July 21st, advertised expedited passport and citizenship services for countries like Indonesia, Vanuatu, Cambodia, and Turkey, excluding Thailand. The billboard was immediately taken down shortly after being reported on July 22nd.
The advertisement raised concerns about potential document forgery or call center scams, according to DOPA.
DOPA has contacted the billboard installers, who revealed they were hired by unidentified Chinese nationals. Coordination with Bangkok authorities is ongoing to pursue legal action against those responsible.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
