Authorities conducted a joint raid on an unregistered private school on Koh Phangan operating beyond its licensed function as a daycare center, discovering as many as 89 Israeli children.
On 1 May 2026, Lieutenant General Norathip Poynork, Commander of the Fourth Army Area and Director of the Internal Security Operations Command Region 4, ordered military personnel from the Command for New Security Threats and Complications Suppression in the 14 southern provinces to join forces with local administrative officials, Koh Phangan police, and immigration officers to raid an unregistered private school located in Village 3, Koh Phangan Subdistrict, Surat Thani Province. The school was operating beyond its authorized capacity as a daycare center for no more than 18 children.
They found many foreign children and youths, especially 89 Israeli children aged between 2 and 12 years. Additionally, 40 undocumented Myanmar workers and 12 workers of other nationalities were found, some of whom tried to flee during the inspection.
Authorities arrested Mrs. Prathumthip, 61, from Phetchabun Province, who acted as the manager and company director; Mr. Aidin, 45, and Ms. Neger, 45, an Iranian married couple and co-owners. They were all charged with employing illegal foreign workers and operating an educational institution without permission.
Furthermore, six foreign teachers of various nationalities, including French and South African, were charged with working without permits and failing to notify employers, violating work conditions.
Initially, Mrs. Prathumthip presented operational permission documents from the Surat Thani Provincial Social Development and Human Security Office indicating authorization to care for 18 children aged 2 to 5 years. However, she could not produce any documents authorizing operation of a private unregistered school, claiming these were still being processed to comply with legal requirements.
This raid followed complaints on social media alleging that Israeli foreigners were conducting business activities in violation of laws, potentially threatening national security in the long term, prompting authorities to investigate and carry out the arrests.