The Tourist Police on Friday conducted a raid on an illegal Chinese vertical drama production set in the Hang Dong district of Chiang Mai, resulting in the arrest of eight Chinese nationals.
A team from the Tourist Police Division 2 inspected a residential property following reports that a group of foreigners was secretly filming a movie on the premises.
Upon arrival, officers discovered a crew of Chinese men and women, accompanied by a Thai interpreter, actively filming at the site.
The production group was unable to present any legal filming permits. Furthermore, no government officials were present to supervise the shoot, which is a mandatory requirement under Thai law for foreign productions.
Investigations revealed that the Chinese nationals had entered Thailand on tourist visas. None of them possessed the necessary work permits to engage in employment or commercial activities within the country.
Rise of vertical series productions
During the interrogation, a suspect identified as Wei confessed to being both a producer and an actress for the project.
She explained that they were filming a vertical series, a short-form drama format that has seen a surge in popularity recently.
Wei stated that the group selected Chiang Mai as their filming location due to its renowned tourist landmarks and its established reputation as a preferred destination for Chinese travellers.
The arresting officers informed the suspects that all film productions in Thailand must strictly adhere to the Film and Video Act of 2008.
This legislation ensures that filming is conducted under official oversight to prevent the creation of distorted content that could potentially harm the national image.
Legal consequences and further investigations
Under the current regulations, all film scripts and synopses must receive prior approval from relevant government agencies before any production activities begin.
Those found in violation of these laws can face significant penalties, including fines reaching 1 million baht.
The eight individuals were transported to the Hang Dong police station to face formal charges for working without permits.
Additionally, authorities confirmed that the case regarding the unauthorised film production would be referred to the Film and Video Committee under the Department of Tourism for further legal proceedings.
The Tourist Police noted that intelligence reports suggest other groups may be operating in a similar unauthorised manner. Investigations remain ongoing to identify and stop further illegal production activities in the region.
