A Turkish tourist was arrested for allegedly running an illegal ice cream cart on backpacker street Khaosan Road in Bangkok.

The vendor, identified only as Muhammed, 27, was found operating the traditional Middle Eastern stall despite lacking a legal work permit.

Police detained him on the busting tourist street, where he was teasing customers with a sleight-of-hand twirling act before serving the stretchy Turkish-style ice cream. He was found to have a tourist visa.

Seven Myanmar nationals were also arrested in the crackdown on illegal foreign workers on May 20. Four of them were unable to produce a passport.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Suriya Phuangsombat of the Immigration Bureau 1 office said the operation comes amid investigations into target areas likely to be involved in human trafficking.

He said: 'Immigration Bureau Division 1, responsible for the Bangkok area, has joined forces with the Chana Songkhram Police Station to crack down on undocumented labour, such as illegal street vending, in key tourist areas.

'Based on the investigation, there is a trend of foreigners working illegally. We have established an inspection cycle and are committed to covering the entire area to the fullest extent of our ability.'

The Turkish tourist claimed he had been hired by a Thai boss who paid him 50,000 baht a month. He added he had been working for around a month, earning 2,000 to 3,000 baht daily before his arrest.

All suspects were charged with being foreigners working without a permit. Four Burmese men face additional charges of illegal entry into Thailand, while those with expired visas were charged with overstaying.

Authorities said they were investigating to track down Muhammed's employer.

Under Thailand's Foreign Employment Act, tourists are banned from working in dozens of occupations including tour guiding, labour work, agriculture, and hairdressing. They are also prohibited from working in the country without a valid permit.

Violators may be fined 5,000 to 50,000 THB (120 to 1,200 GBP) and may face deportation to their home country. They will also be banned from seeking a Thai work permit for two years.