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Owners and employees of entertainment venues on Phuket’s famous Bangla Road gathered in Patong on May 13 to protest against what they described as unfair treatment, alleged extortion by officials, and long delays in business licence approvals. The demonstration took place near the Bangla police booth at the entrance to Bangla Road in Patong, Kathu district. The protest was led by Weerawit Khrueasombat, president of the Patong Entertainment Association. Participants carried si

Police in Phuket are investigating after staff at a storage rental facility in Patong discovered multiple firearms and ammunition inside a locker rented by a Swedish national who had reportedly stopped paying rent for more than four months. The incident came to light after representatives of Mespace Self Storage Patong, located inside Jungceylon shopping mall in Patong, contacted officers from Patong Police Station on May 12. Employees requested police assistance after openin

Two suspected drug dealers were arrested in Patong during a special operation carried out by officers from Thailand’s Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA). Authorities seized 16 grams of crystal methamphetamine along with 375 methamphetamine pills during the raid. The operation took place on the evening of May 11, although details were officially released by Phuket’s Public Relations Department the following night. Officials did not disclose the exact location of th

Authorities in Phuket announced the arrest of a key suspect linked to the long-running Freedom Beach land encroachment case after the man voluntarily surrendered to police on May 12. According to Phuket’s Public Relations Department, the 51-year-old suspect, identified only as Parinthorn, is connected to four separate criminal cases involving the alleged illegal occupation of 57 rai of protected forest land in Karon subdistrict. Although officials have repeatedly stated that

Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to visit Koh Samui and Koh Phangan as part of the government’s campaign to address concerns surrounding foreign-operated businesses in southern Thailand’s island tourism sector. Particular attention will focus on companies suspected of illegally using Thai nominees to conceal foreign ownership. Authorities have also expressed concern about the growing number of businesses allegedly linked to foreign nationa

Three Indian nationals died after losing consciousness at a popular nightclub in Phuket, with police confirming that narcotic substances were detected in the victims’ systems. According to reports from Kamala Police, the incident took place during the early hours of May 9 at Cafe del Mar in Kamala. Officers received an emergency call at approximately 2:06 a.m. regarding four foreign tourists who had collapsed inside the venue. Emergency responders transported three men to Pat

A foreign motorcyclist is being sought by police after allegedly causing a serious hit-and-run crash involving a Thai teenager in Phuket’s Rawai area. The accident happened around 2:30 p.m. on May 10. According to the victim’s mother, who later shared details online, a foreign rider carrying two passengers suddenly changed lanes and collided with her son’s motorcycle. The impact threw the teenager off his bike and left him with multiple injuries. Photos shared on local social

A confrontation involving a group of Indian tourists and two Thai men in Patong early on May 12 has led to a police investigation after one local resident was reportedly injured during the incident. According to police, the altercation took place around 4:30 a.m. near the end of Bangla Road in Patong, Phuket. Officers later responded to a report of violence at approximately 4:50 a.m. Investigators said four Indian nationals — 37-year-old Sandeep Kumar Sunil, 39-year-old Moham

Thailand’s Department of Marine and Coastal Resources (DMCR), together with the Marine Police under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB), has issued a renewed warning about strict penalties for illegal fishing and underwater hunting of protected marine species in Phuket. The reminder follows an inspection conducted at Kata Beach, where authorities reaffirmed that violations can result in fines of up to 100,000 baht and, in serious cases, imprisonment for up to one year. The

A tourist speedboat operated by Love Andaman was destroyed by fire while anchored in Ao Makham Bay on Phuket’s southern coast on May 10. Authorities and the company confirmed that no injuries were reported in the incident. The vessel, named Juliet, caught fire at approximately 5:25 p.m. while moored in the bay near Cape Panwa. According to officials, the boat had already completed its scheduled tours for the day, and all crew members had gone ashore before the fire began. No

Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul visited Bang Tao Beach in Phuket’s Thalang district to personally oversee efforts aimed at combating illegal occupation of public beachfront land. During the inspection, Anutin reaffirmed the government’s determination to restore order along Phuket’s coastline and prevent influential groups from taking control of public areas. “There must be no mafia or influential figures controlling these areas,” the prime minist

Tourist police in Phuket arrested two foreign nationals accused of overstaying their visas by more than two years after they were identified through an AI-powered facial recognition system in Kathu district. The arrests took place on May 8 during an operation targeting foreigners suspected of immigration violations and other illegal activities in key tourist areas across Phuket. According to tourist police, the operation was launched following directives to intensify inspecti

Phuket United FC will play its second home match tonight, May 10, as the club welcomes Phatthalung FC to Surakul Stadium in Phuket Town. Kickoff is scheduled for 6:00 p.m. Although the club does not officially hold the status of a youth team, Phuket United FC has quickly earned a reputation as a promising squad built around young local talent. Most players in the lineup are under the age of 21, but the team has already shown impressive performances during the opening rounds o

Thai Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul is scheduled to visit Phuket on May 10, 2026, to personally inspect ongoing investigations into illegal land encroachment along the island’s coastline. The field mission is aimed at reinforcing the government’s efforts to protect public beaches, preserve natural resources, and ensure compliance with environmental and land-use laws. The first inspection will take place at Bang Tao Beach in Cherng Thalay, Thalang dis

Phuket authorities have announced a major tightening of law enforcement measures targeting foreign nationals and businesses operating illegally on the island. Officials say the campaign is intended to strengthen public order, improve tourism standards, and protect local communities as Phuket continues to experience rapid growth in international arrivals. Governor Nirun Phongsitthithavorn stated that Phuket welcomed more than 14 million visitors in 2025, with Russian tourists

A teenager in Phuket has received widespread praise after helping save a foreign man who collapsed on a roadside in Kathu district on the evening of May 7. Photos and videos shared by Thai media and local Facebook pages showed the young man performing CPR on an unconscious foreigner lying on the road with a visible head injury. According to DailyNews, the incident happened outside a beverage stall, where the foreign man reportedly suddenly collapsed and struck his head on the

Phuket is set to celebrate its culinary heritage once again as the annual Phuket Food Festival takes place from May 8 to May 12, 2026. Organized by Phuket Municipality, the event is being held under the theme “Good Food, Good Health, Good Spirit,” bringing together local cuisine, cultural traditions, and community activities in one of the island’s most popular public spaces. The festival is hosted at Chalermprakiat R.10 Public Park in Saphan Hin and begins daily from 5:00 p.m

Thailand recorded its highest inflation rate in three years in April as rising global oil prices began affecting consumer costs across the country. Although inflation remains moderate compared to many other economies, the latest figures mark a significant shift for Thailand, where inflation had still been negative as recently as March. According to the Trade Policy and Strategy Office (TPSO), Thailand’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 2.89% year-on-year in April and r

Phuket authorities are stepping up enforcement against foreign nationals who violate local laws, prompting the Israeli Embassy in Thailand to issue a public warning to Israeli citizens staying on the island. The statement, written in Hebrew, was published on May 7 through the embassy’s official Facebook page “Israel in Thailand.” In the message, Israeli nationals were urged to strictly follow Thai laws and regulations, as officials in Phuket are now applying tougher measures

Police in Patong have arrested two foreign nationals accused of cocaine distribution during an undercover anti-drug operation targeting illegal narcotics activity in the popular tourist district. According to Phuket Tourist Police, investigators carried out surveillance before organizing a sting operation that led to the arrests of a Nigerian man identified as Samuel and a Belgian man named Bruno. Both men were also found to have significantly overstayed their visas in Thaila