Israeli Man Arrested in Thailand for Operating Unlicensed Childcare Center with 42 Foreign Children

Thai authorities arrested a 55-year-old Israeli man and a 25-year-old Romanian woman on July 4 in Koh Phangan for allegedly running an unlicensed childcare center. The raid was part of a broader operation by immigration and police forces targeting foreigners suspected of illegal business activities in the province. During the inspection of the "Little Panda" daycare, officers found 42 foreign children aged between two and six years participating in educational and extracurricular activities. The center employed both Thai and foreign staff members. The arrests highlight ongoing enforcement efforts against unauthorized enterprises involving foreign nationals in Thailand.