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Thailand is preparing to introduce a new digital system that will automatically screen applicants for commercial driving licences against police records. Starting from around July 2026, individuals applying for or renewing licences for public and commercial transport will undergo automatic background checks. The initiative is part of a data integration project between the Department of Land Transport (DLT) and the Royal Thai Police (RTP). Digital integration of databases Foll

Authorities are investigating the cause of a major fire that broke out in Phuket Town on the afternoon of March 27, with early reports suggesting a possible electric motorcycle battery explosion. The blaze started around 1:00pm at a three-storey commercial building on Thepkrasattri Road. According to local reports, firefighters managed to bring the situation under control within about 30 minutes. However, updates from public relations officials indicated that crews were still

Authorities in Phuket have launched a large-scale operation to tackle illegal land encroachment at Freedom Beach, located within the protected Nakkerd Mountain National Forest Reserve. The initiative began on March 26 after local residents filed complaints about land being unlawfully occupied and intimidation allegedly carried out by influential groups. In response, Phuket Governor Nirut Laopongsitthathorn ordered a joint task force to investigate the situation. The inspectio

A fire broke out on the afternoon of March 27 at a two-storey residential building near Kohsit Vihara Temple in Phuket, prompting a rapid emergency response. Rescue teams were dispatched to the scene after flames engulfed part of the structure. One man was injured in the incident, suffering burns, including blisters and visible wounds. He received immediate assistance from responders and was transported for further medical treatment. Firefighters from Phuket City, along with

Police in Phuket have arrested a Thai man accused of sexually assaulting at least four women in the Chalong area during March. According to Chalong Police Station, officers received four separate complaints from victims, including both Thai and foreign nationals. Authorities said the incidents caused widespread concern in the community, with some victims sustaining minor injuries while trying to escape. Suspect identified through CCTV Victims provided similar descriptions of

Phuket’s Immigration Bureau and other government offices will operate on a reduced schedule in early April, with more non-working days than working ones. According to an official announcement released on March 25, government agencies will be closed for eight days during the first half of the month, while remaining open for only seven days. Holiday schedule The extended closures are linked to two national holidays — Chakri Memorial Day on April 6 and the Songkran festival from

A Russian national has died following a road accident that occurred overnight in the Cherng Talay area of Phuket. According to reports, the crash took place around 3:40am near Boat Avenue. Emergency responders transported the injured man to Thalang Hospital, where doctors attempted to save his life. Despite their efforts, he was pronounced dead at 8:18am. Police at Thalang Station were officially notified of the death later that morning, at approximately 8:50am, after receivi

A fatal road accident in Phuket has left one motorcyclist dead and another injured after a foreign driver lost control of a pickup truck. The incident occurred on March 25 in the Chalong area at around 5pm. According to reports, a foreign woman driving a blue pickup veered into the opposite lane and collided with two motorcycles. Video footage circulating on Thai social media shows the vehicle suddenly sliding to the right before crashing into the riders. The pickup then stru

A theft case at a Porsche service centre in Phuket has been resolved after police identified a staff member who took a client’s luxury watch. The incident involved a Rolex valued at nearly 500,000 baht, which went missing from a white Porsche Taycan GTS. The vehicle had been sent to a service centre on Bypass Road on March 23. According to the owner, her son had borrowed the car the day before and left the watch inside a compartment in the centre console. She explained that s

Fuel prices across Thailand jumped sharply on March 26 after the Oil Fuel Fund (OFFO) reduced subsidies, pushing retail costs up by 6 baht per liter. The updated subsidy rates were announced late on March 25. On the same day, Finance Minister Ekniti Nitithanprapas stated that the government would no longer impose price caps on fuel, allowing prices to fluctuate according to market forces. Although official pricing tables initially remained unchanged overnight, they were updat

A restaurant owner in Phuket has reported a foreign couple to police after they were caught entering private property, using a swimming pool, and consuming cannabis without permission. The incident took place in the Rawai area, where the owner of Grills Nai-Harn shared CCTV footage online showing an employee confronting the couple. In her post, she asked the public to help identify them, suggesting they might be staying in the nearby Soi Naya area. According to the owner, the

Police in Phuket seized a significant quantity of methamphetamine during a late-night checkpoint operation on March 24, 2026. Officers stationed at the Tha Chatchai checkpoint stopped a red Mazda 3 sedan and uncovered 2,967 methamphetamine pills hidden inside the vehicle’s engine compartment. The operation was led by senior officers from Tha Chatchai Police Station, resulting in the arrest of two suspects from Ao Luek district in Krabi province. During the inspection, authori

Phuket is preparing to host the fourth edition of the Peranakan cultural festival, which will take place earlier than usual this year. The Phuket Peranakan Festival 2026 is scheduled for April 3–5. This year’s theme, “BLOOM – The Blooming of Peranakan Culture,”  highlights both the visual beauty and cultural revival of Peranakan heritage. Floral elements, traditionally associated with Peranakan identity — especially in clothing — will play a central role. Organizers also conn

Authorities in Phuket have released a new warning about venomous jellyfish after a large concentration was discovered near Racha Yai Island, raising safety concerns for tourists and marine operators. The advisory was issued by the Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) on March 23, just days after a similar alert regarding Maiton Island. In both locations, officials identified jellyfish from the Pelagidae family, commonly known as “fire jellyfish.” According to rep

Thai authorities have dismantled a major international drug network, arresting a South Korean suspect believed to be a key figure in the operation during a raid in Phuket. The arrest was carried out by the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) in cooperation with Immigration Police. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Kim, had been wanted under an INTERPOL Red Notice and had reportedly evaded capture for more than two years. The operation followed intelligence provided

A foreign man was attacked and robbed by three individuals at an ATM in Patong, Phuket, in an incident that has drawn attention online. Local police have not yet issued an official statement. According to reports, the incident—which was captured on surveillance cameras and widely covered by the media—occurred around 5 a.m. on March 19 near the seafood market in Patong. In the video, the man is seen trying to withdraw cash while another individual, believed to be Thai, stands

Authorities in Phuket have issued an urgent warning after a surge in venomous jellyfish was recorded near Maiton Island, prompting immediate safety measures. The Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR) advised tourists and marine operators to avoid entering the water in the affected area after marine specialists detected a high concentration of dangerous jellyfish. The findings were reported by veterinarians from the Siritharn Rare Marine Animal Rescue Center. Accor

A confrontation on Bangla Road in Patong, Phuket, escalated into a violent altercation after a foreign woman reportedly provoked a group of Thai transwomen. A video circulating online — without a confirmed date or time — shows a woman believed to be Russian arguing with several transwomen in the street. Dressed in a skirt with an elephant pattern, she appears to single out one individual wearing a pink mini dress. According to the footage, the tourist shouted aggressively and

A Singaporean man has been charged following a road incident in Phuket that left a traffic police officer injured. The accident occurred on the morning of March 18 at around 7:30am near the Thao Thep Krasattri and Thao Si Sunthon Monument Roundabout on Thep Krasattri Road. According to authorities, a white pickup truck crashed into plastic traffic barriers positioned at the roundabout. Footage shared on Thai social media shows the vehicle hitting the barriers, which were then

A British man was discovered dead in a drainage canal near Bang Tao Beach in Phuket on March 14, with CCTV footage later showing his unusual behaviour shortly before his death. The body was found around 12:30pm by a Myanmar national who had gone to the canal in the Bang Tao area to collect morning glory. After making the discovery, he alerted officers from Choeng Thalay Police Station. According to reports, the deceased was identified as 33-year-old British citizen Jordan Wri