Immigration Crackdown: 24 Illegal Workers Arrested at Chinese Data Centre Site in Rayong

RAYONG, Thailand — A joint law enforcement operation raided a major tech construction site in Rayong province on Tuesday, August 11, 2026 arresting 24 foreign workers for operating without proper employment permits and immigration documentation.

The crackdown targeted a sprawling site spanning over 100 rai in Village 6, tambon Ban Chang, Ban Chang district. The location was under development for a multi-million-dollar data centre project funded by Chinese investors.

At approximately 10:00 a.m., officers from the Rayong Immigration Office, the Provincial Employment Office, and local police launched a coordinated inspection following tips regarding labor law violations.

Upon arrival, authorities encountered a massive workforce of more than 400 people living and working inside an onsite residential compound, where the sudden presence of law enforcement triggered widespread panic among workers. Dozens of laborers attempted evasive action by fleeing across the construction grounds as officers moved in to secure the perimeter, and several workers even jumped into an adjacent canal and swam across to avoid document checks.

Despite these escape attempts, officers managed to detain 24 individuals—comprising 20 Myanmar nationals and four Chinese nationals—who were unable to present valid work permits or legal visas. All 24 suspects were taken into custody and transferred to the Ban Chang police station for initial processing and formal charges under Thai labor and immigration laws.

Authorities have also initiated inquiries into the project's management firm and sub-contractors to determine legal liability for employing undocumented foreign labor. Provincial officials reaffirmed that routine monitoring of major industrial and technology construction zones across Rayong will be intensified to ensure compliance with national employment regulations.

Following the arrests, regional labor advocates urged Thai authorities to ensure that sub-contractors are held accountable for worker exploitation, noting that unregistered laborers are often left vulnerable to wage theft and unsafe working conditions. Officials confirmed that inspections across other large-scale infrastructure and industrial developments in the Eastern Economic Corridor will continue throughout the coming weeks.