Tourist police in Phuket, Thailand, has arrested a 24-year-old Nigerian national, Clinton Ubasinachi Ekechukwu, who had overstayed his visa for more than two years after an AI facial recognition system flagged him in Kathu district.
The arrest was made on May 8, 2026 during a crackdown on foreigners suspected of immigration offences and other illegal activity in major tourist areas.
Tourist police said the operation followed orders to increase checks on overstayers and suspicious individuals in Phuket.
Officers used a Mobile AI Camera system installed in a smart patrol vehicle to screen people in Kathu.
The system is connected to a central database of foreign nationals whose permission to stay in Thailand has expired.
The system reportedly alerted officers to two men wanted for overstaying offences.
According to the police, Ekechukwu, entered Thailand under the 60-day visa exemption scheme and had allegedly overstayed by 877 days.
Tourist police said the facial recognition system helps officers identify foreign nationals with expired immigration status in real time, improving checks in busy tourist areas.
The Nigerian was charged with being a foreign national remaining in Thailand after his permission had expired.
He was taken to Kathu Police Station for legal proceedings and deportation procedures.
