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A Russian man was arrested at Phuket’s Tha Chatchai checkpoint after police allegedly discovered a large quantity of illegal drugs hidden inside his luggage during a routine inspection of an interprovincial bus arriving from Pattaya. According to officers from Tha Chatchai Police Station, the suspect was identified as 29-year-old Mr. Gorskii, a Russian national traveling on a Phuket–Pattaya bus route. Police said officers became suspicious after noticing the man behaving nerv

The annual Phuket Baba Wedding Festival transformed Phuket Old Town into a celebration of Peranakan heritage on May 17, bringing together couples, locals, and visitors for traditional Chinese-style wedding ceremonies rooted in centuries of cultural history. This year marked the 13th edition of the event since Phuket’s Peranakan community launched the festival as both a cultural preservation initiative and a tourism attraction. The 2026 theme, translated as “Fragments of a Glo

Police in Phuket detained four foreign teenagers after they allegedly stole and damaged decorative property outside a local resident’s home in Phuket Old Town. The incident came to public attention after the Phuket Times Facebook page published CCTV footage showing the group on Phang Nga Road, one of the main streets in the historic district of Phuket Town. According to the footage, one of the teenagers removed a decorative lamp shade hanging outside a house before walking aw

A body believed to belong to a missing police officer was discovered on Nai Thon Beach in Phuket this morning, May 17, two days after the man reportedly disappeared in rough sea conditions. The incident began on May 15 when the man went swimming at Nai Thon Beach in Sakhu subdistrict during strong winds and waves estimated at more than two metres high. Witnesses said he was pulled offshore by powerful currents and vanished in the water. Lifeguards attempted to rescue him but

A recently installed underwater statue of Hanuman near Racha Yai Island off Phuket has suffered serious structural damage after the arrival of the southwest monsoon and worsening sea conditions. The incident was reported on May 16 by Phuket’s branch of Radio Thailand, which operates under Thailand’s Public Relations Department. Officials warned that part of the structure had collapsed due to strong underwater currents and wave activity associated with the beginning of the rai

Police in Phuket have arrested a 38-year-old woman accused of involvement in multiple online fraud operations linked to so-called “horse accounts” used by scammers to receive stolen funds. Authorities said the suspect, identified as Ms. Kochamon, was wanted under three separate warrants issued by the Phuket Provincial Court, Chiang Mai Provincial Court, and Thanyaburi Provincial Court. She faces allegations including assisting public fraud, entering false information into com

Thailand’s Meteorological Department has reissued a weather warning for Phuket, cautioning residents and visitors about heavy rainfall and dangerous sea conditions expected to continue through May 18. According to Phuket Meteorological Center (Phuket Met), the island is now fully experiencing the effects of the southwest monsoon, which officially marked the beginning of the low season on May 15. Weather radar images throughout the day showed rain clouds moving from the southw

Thai police have arrested a 33-year-old British national accused of helping organize a cartel-linked assassination of an Iraqi man in Phuket earlier this year. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Amir, was detained during a raid on a luxury condominium in Nong Prue, Pattaya. The operation was carried out by officers from the Crime Suppression Division under the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) following a warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court. Authorities said the B

Thailand’s Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Suchart Chomklin, has ordered authorities to restore public access to Nui Beach in Phuket after complaints about blocked entry routes and unauthorized fee collection. The inspection took place on May 14 at Nui Beach in Karon and involved several senior officials, including Assistant Minister Pol. Lt. Gen. Nantachart Supamongkol, National Parks Director-General Attapol Charoenchansa, Deputy Director-General of the Royal

Police in Phuket carried out a raid in Rawai that led to the rescue of a 16-year-old girl allegedly exploited at a massage parlor operating as a cover for child prostitution. The operation was conducted by officers from Chalong Police Station together with the Phuket Provincial Office of Social Development and Human Security. Authorities arrested the owner of the business, identified only as Ms. May, as well as a 40-year-old employee known as Ms. Nid. The rescued teenager, re

Phuket authorities are stepping up efforts to improve public health preparedness by strengthening emergency response plans for possible future epidemics and pandemics. The Phuket Emergency Medical Center recently took part in a high-level workshop focused on reviewing response procedures and improving coordination between agencies during large-scale public health emergencies. The event was held at Phuket Deep Sea Port under the direction of Phuket Provincial Administrative Or

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

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