Thai authorities raided an illegal school on the island of Koh Phangan, disguised as a nursery, which housed 89 foreign children, mostly Israeli, and teachers without work permits.
On 2 May 2026, on the orders of Lt-Gen. Narathip Phoynok, commander of the 4th Thai Army and director of the Operation to Maintain Order in the South, a joint operation involving the military, local police, immigration and administrative authorities targeted an unregulated private school in village No. 3 of the Koh Phangan subdistrict, Surat Thani province.
This facility, authorised only as a nursery for 18 children aged 2 to 5, was actually accommodating 89 foreign children and adolescents aged 2 to 12, mainly Israeli, along with a playground and classrooms. The security forces also discovered 40 Burmese workers and 12 immigrants of other nationalities, some of whom tried to flee during the raid.
Four people were arrested: Pratumthip, 61, from Chon Daen district in Phetchabun province, presented as director and board member; as well as the Iranian couple Mr. Aidin and Ms. Neger, both aged 45, claiming to be co-owners. They are accused of the illegal employment of foreign workers and operating a school without authorisation.
Six foreign teachers, originating from countries including France and South Africa, were detained for working without permits and breaching visa conditions. Pratumthip presented an authorisation document from the Surat Thani Provincial Department of Social Development and Human Security, limiting the activity to the care of 18 children aged 2-5 years, but was unable to provide authorisation for an off-system school. She cited an ongoing procedure to regularise the situation.
This operation follows complaints on social media reporting illegal activities carried out by Israelis, potentially harmful to national security in the long term.