THAILAND, the Philippines and Indonesia have been forced to stringently enforce the law against foreign nationals for being involved in illegal activities.
The sternest warning came from Thailand Immigration Chief, Sompong Chingduang, who said that the authorities latest action against foreigners found to be breaking the law in the country was 'just the beginning'.
The Thaiger portal quoted him as saying that he's targeting to rid Thailand of illegal immigrants, over-stayers, thieves, criminals and those with international warrants.
"As part of the announcement, 8 Somalis, 4 Chinese, and 3 Syrian nationals, all accused of over-staying their visas, were lined up and presented for the routine media shaming," said the website.
In the Philippines, in a recent operation in the capital, security forces has detained more than 500 foreigners, mostly Chinese nationals including Malaysians, suspected of working in the country without permits and being involved in an investment scam.
"The operation resulted in the arrests of 542 people, including 442 Chinese, 45 Burmese, 25 Malaysians, 23 Vietnamese, four Taiwanese and three Indonesians, according to the Bureau of Immigration," said Radio Free Asia (RFA).
The Immigration Commissioner, Jaime Morente stressed that if a foreign national committed a criminal act, that will be under the jurisdiction of the local authorities but they are liable for deportation if found to violate immigration rules.
A majority entered the country using the tourist visa and but without the required labor documents, working under a company that employed illegal aliens that was also a front operating a scam, using techniques of online identity theft to target its victims.
RFA quoted the Manila Police Chief, Guilermo Eleazar, who explained the scammers tactic comparable to how swindlers extort money but using communication technology.'
In Indonesia, specifically Bali, the challenge managing the arrival of 20 million tourists a year where some has been found to traffic drugs.
Currently the authorities has focused on reading body language as more traffickers risk their lives by carrying drugs inside their bodies, reports 9news web.
In 2017, 25 people were detained for attempting to smuggle ban substances using post or cargo through the holiday island's international airport.
Cases increased last year with 75 people detained while this year the number is expected to match or exceed previous record with 59 arrests so far.