All Articles

A Russian man was found dead inside his condominium room in Kathu district, Phuket, on August 30. Police are investigating the circumstances and cause of his death. Officers from Kathu Police Station received a report concerning the death of Russian national Maksim Tarasov at around 9pm on August 30. According to Amarin TV, Tarasov was found lying face down beside the bed in room 24/89. Police found no apparent signs of a struggle or other unusual circumstances inside the roo

A drug investigation in Phuket expanded after the arrest of three teenagers led police to another suspect and resulted in the seizure of more than five kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine on August 30. Border Patrol Police arrested three suspects aged between 17 and 19 after finding approximately 2.68 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine and 131.9 grammes of ketamine in their possession. Officers also confiscated drug paraphernalia, a digital weighing scale and four mobi

Six people were taken to hospital after an interprovincial bus travelling from Hat Yai to Phuket crashed in Phang Nga early on August 29. The bus struck a power pole near the final section of its journey, shortly before reaching Phuket. Emergency responders received a report of the accident at around 4:42am. The crash occurred at a traffic-light intersection in Khok Kloi, opposite the new bus terminal. According to Kusoldharm Loma rescue workers, 22 people were on board the b

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

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 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

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

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

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

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 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

Police in Phuket have arrested a 71-year-old Thai woman accused of participating in a gambling-related fraud scheme that allegedly cost one victim more than 9 million baht. Investigators say the suspect may also be connected to similar scams that have caused losses exceeding 64 million baht nationwide. The woman, identified only as Sor, was taken into custody on August 20 in Phuket Town’s Talat Nuea area. Her arrest followed an investigation launched after a businesswoman rep

Provincial authorities in Phuket have begun investigating an Israeli-owned restaurant in Patong after receiving complaints that Thai customers were allegedly denied service. The inspection was led by Deputy Phuket Governor and Acting Security Advisor to the Ministry of Interior, Pol. Capt. Khetarat Chansilp. Officials visited the establishment following reports that local residents had been refused entry. The inquiry forms part of a wider campaign aimed at ensuring foreign-op

A motorcycle taxi rider working for a ride-hailing platform in Phuket has appealed for assistance after suffering severe injuries in a collision allegedly caused by a foreign driver travelling against the flow of traffic. The case was highlighted by Phuket Times on August 18. According to the report, the foreign motorist was driving a sedan in the wrong direction when the vehicle collided with the rider’s motorcycle. The impact left the Thai rider seriously injured. He was ta

A Chinese tourist has died after being discovered unconscious in the swimming pool of a hotel in Phuket on August 17. Despite immediate rescue efforts and emergency medical treatment, doctors were unable to save his life. The deceased, identified as 44-year-old Ye, had arrived in Phuket with his family and was staying at a hotel from August 16 to 22. According to preliminary information, Ye entered the hotel’s swimming pool, which was about two metres deep. At one point, his

A surveillance camera at a market in Phuket recorded a foreign woman urinating at the entrance of a beachwear shop before leaving the area. The footage was shared by Phuket Times on August 15 and reportedly originated from the Karon area. However, the exact date and time of the incident were not disclosed. According to the video, the woman, dressed in white shorts and a sleeveless top, approached the shop entrance, stopped briefly, lowered her shorts and relieved herself befo

Seven people were injured and taken to hospital after a tourist longtail boat capsized and sank during an excursion in the waters of Phang Nga Bay on the morning of August 15. A total of 12 people, including several children, were on board at the time of the incident. The Regional Maritime Security Centre (ThaiMECC Region 3) received an emergency report at approximately 11:15 a.m. and immediately coordinated a response. When rescue teams arrived at the scene near Hang Nak Cap