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Thai authorities have detained an American national in Phuket who is wanted by US authorities under eight arrest warrants related to alleged sexual offences against children. Lance Beck, 48, was located at a hotel in Phuket on August 29 following a request from the US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Thai police said the American is accused of sexually abusing children under the age of 14 and recording the alleged abuse on video before fleeing to Thailand. The allegatio

Thai rock icon Ad Carabao has voiced his support for rising young performer Nene, praising her musical talent and the influence she is having on a new generation of musicians across Thailand. Ad said that children and their parents increasingly come to the backstage areas of his concerts hoping to meet him and get an autograph. Some young fans even bring guitars with them. He believes Nene’s growing popularity and musical achievements have contributed to this trend. “If this

Thailand has introduced a new set of regulations governing the deportation of foreign nationals who violate the law. The new rules officially came into force on August 28, 2026, following the publication of a regulation issued by the Office of the Prime Minister and signed by Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul. The Thai government said the new framework is intended to establish a clearer and more efficient process for state agencies dealing with the deportation of foreigners

Police in Thailand’s Region 8 have arrested a Phuket-based woman suspected of defrauding tourists through a fake luxury villa rental scheme. The investigation began after Russian visitors reported transferring money for accommodation only to discover upon arrival that no reservations had been made in their names. The suspect, identified as Thanaporn and also known as Yu, was arrested at around 6:00 a.m. on August 26 at a house in Thalang. Police have not released her surname.

Phuket recorded a sharp increase in Israeli visitors in July, with arrivals from the country rising by 52.43% compared with the same month last year. The figure was even more striking against the pre-pandemic period, showing a 1,204.68% increase compared with July 2019, according to data from the Phuket office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The figures were presented on August 27 during a provincial meeting chaired by Phuket Governor Chotinarin Kirdsom. The lates

Phuket Immigration police have arrested a 24-year-old Vietnamese national who was wanted internationally under an Interpol Red Notice in connection with allegations of fraud and embezzlement involving millions of baht. The suspect, identified only as Mr Nguyen, had reportedly been living and working in Patong after Vietnamese authorities issued an international arrest warrant. Phuket Immigration officers launched surveillance after receiving information about his whereabouts

Authorities in Phuket have shut down an unlicensed childcare centre in Wichit after local residents raised concerns about the facility. A 40-year-old Myanmar woman who was operating the service was arrested during the inspection. The operation took place on August 26, 2026, when officers from Wichit Police Station, accompanied by the local village headman, went to inspect the premises following complaints from residents. The childcare service was being run from a rented row h

Phuket authorities are stepping up preparations for a potential tsunami, with a renewed focus on warning systems, evacuation routes and emergency facilities at some of the province’s busiest beaches. The measures are intended to strengthen protection for both local communities and the large number of tourists visiting the island. Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom led a comprehensive review of the province’s tsunami preparedness system. The inspection included visits to warnin

Authorities in Phuket carried out a late-night inspection at a hookah lounge in the Bang Tao area, seizing 15 hookah sets and more than 3.6 kilogrammes of smoking mixtures. One person was detained during the operation and later handed over to police in Cherng Talay for further legal proceedings. The inspection took place at around 10:30pm on August 24 at an unnamed establishment in Cherng Talay subdistrict, Thalang district. The official report did not disclose the name of th

Sixteen-year-old Phuket rock singer and guitarist Nene Royal has secured a direct place in the final of America’s Got Talent 2026, skipping the semi-final stage altogether. The KIS Phuket student received a Live Show Golden Buzzer from Spice Girls member and AGT judge Mel B. Nene’s performance of “Black Hole Sun” by Soundgarden proved decisive. As in her earlier appearances on the competition, she performed both vocals and guitar herself. The performance was broadcast on the

Phuket police have arrested seven teenagers allegedly involved in a shooting and assault in Patong that left a 17-year-old boy critically injured and another teenager hurt. The arrests followed an earlier incident reported on August 22, when a group of more than 20 youths reportedly gathered along Phra Baramee Road opposite a hotel in Patong. The confrontation escalated into violence, with one teenager suffering a gunshot wound to the neck and a 15-year-old boy being injured

The Protect Phuket residents’ group has asked Patong police for permission to hold a demonstration calling on tourists to follow Thai law and respect the local community. The group, led by Saichon Nuchet, submitted its request at Patong Police Station on August 24. The proposed demonstration is scheduled for August 28 at Loma Public Park in front of Patong Beach. According to the organisers, the event is intended to draw attention to problems linked to tourist behaviour and p

A confrontation between a Thai employee at a travel agency in Phuket and an Israeli family has attracted widespread attention online after a Palestinian flag displayed at the business led to a heated exchange. The video was published by the Phuket Times Facebook page on August 23 and quickly went viral. The exact date and time when the incident took place were not reported. The footage shows the 24-year-old Thai employee holding a Palestinian flag and repeatedly shouting, “Fr

A free 99-bed accommodation facility has opened in Phuket for patients of Vachira Phuket Hospital and their family members. Baan Phueng Wat is designed to help people who qualify for subsidised medical treatment but struggle to afford the additional costs associated with long-term care and recovery on the island. The project was developed with support from Wat Khao Rang Samakkitham, a temple located near Vachira Phuket Hospital. The official opening ceremony for Baan Phueng W

Local authorities and police in Phuket carried out a late-night security operation in Chalong this week as part of ongoing efforts to combat drugs, illegal weapons and other criminal activity in the area. An integrated checkpoint was established in Chalong, where officers stopped and inspected people and vehicles. The operation was aimed at detecting narcotics, weapons and other prohibited items while increasing security for residents and tourists. During the checks, authorit

A 17-year-old teenager was seriously injured in a shooting following a late-night confrontation in Patong, Phuket. The incident took place at around 1:35am on August 22 on Phra Baramee Road, in the northern part of the Patong Beach area. Police identified the injured teenager as Tipakon James Thongtha, a student from Ratchaburi province. After being shot, he was taken to Patong Hospital, where his condition was reported to be serious. According to the preliminary investigatio

Phuket City Municipality conducted a large-scale fire drill at Phuket City Hall on August 20, combining an evacuation exercise with practical training in firefighting, rescue operations and emergency response. The drill began at around 2pm at Phuket City Hall on Surin Road. Municipal employees, firefighters, rescue workers, civil defence volunteers, traffic volunteers and representatives from other city services took part in the exercise. According to the scenario, a fire bro

A foreign tourist was rescued from rough seas at Patong Beach in Phuket on August 20 after entering the water despite red flags and repeated warnings from lifeguards. The man reportedly told lifeguards that he was a strong swimmer before going into the sea. However, strong waves and currents eventually swept him away from the shore, leaving him unable to return to the beach on his own. Lifeguards immediately launched a rescue operation using a jet ski and a yellow rescue boar

Large cash withdrawals in Phuket have helped investigators uncover a nationwide call-centre scam network allegedly involved in defrauding an elderly woman of more than 12.2 million baht in life savings. The Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), working through the Crime Suppression Division (CSD), arrested 30 suspects during simultaneous raids at 30 locations across 11 provinces, including Phuket. The investigation began after the Anti-Online Fraud Center (ACSC) identified susp

A Thai motorcyclist escaped serious injury after his bike reportedly developed a throttle problem and eventually plunged into the sea from Chalong Pier in Phuket on August 20. The rider managed to jump off the motorcycle before it went into the water. CCTV footage of the incident was shared by the Apichart Fishing Tour Facebook account. The video shows the motorcycle travelling towards Chalong Pier before continuing off the pier and falling into the sea. The person who posted