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Dozens of newly hatched leatherback sea turtles made their first journey into the Andaman Sea from Thai Mueang Beach on the evening of July 24. The release was broadcast live on the official Facebook page of Khao Lampi–Hat Thai Mueang National Park. Park officials did not specify the exact number of hatchlings, but confirmed they came from the third nest laid this season by a female leatherback turtle affectionately named Namo. The turtle returned to Thai Mueang Beach several

The Phuket Parkland festival has officially returned to Mai Khao, bringing music, local cuisine and family entertainment back to northern Phuket. Although rainy weather affected the opening day, the event remains one of the region’s biggest annual attractions. The three-day festival began on July 24 at Phuket Gateway, also known as Phuket City Gate. The opening ceremony was attended by Phuket Provincial Administrative Organization (PPAO) President Rewat Areerob, mayors from s

Authorities in Phuket have stepped up their campaign against unlicensed cannabis businesses, arresting a suspect and confiscating cannabis products worth more than 120,000 baht during an operation in Wichit. According to provincial officials, investigators received information about a cannabis shop allegedly operating without the required licence. Officers first carried out a controlled purchase before conducting a raid on the premises. A 22-year-old man was taken into custod

The newly elected president of the Phuket Tourist Association has called on the Thai government to place greater emphasis on promoting the island’s positive image, while continuing to enforce the law without drawing excessive attention to every enforcement operation. Sarayut Mallam, who was elected president on July 22, said authorities should maintain efforts against illegal activities such as nominee businesses, unlicensed tour guides, illegal taxi services and unlawful bea

Phuket officials have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening public security, highlighting the expansion of the province’s AI-powered "Phuket Eye" surveillance network during a high-level meeting on national security policies. The Phuket Provincial Police Oversight Committee, chaired by Governor Chotinarin Kerdsom, met this week with senior police officers, committee members, and representatives from relevant government agencies to review progress on key security initia

The Thai government’s recent move to restore public access to Nui Beach in Phuket is being viewed as more than a local land dispute. Officials see the case as a potential turning point in the country’s approach to managing coastal resources, enforcing land laws, and protecting public access to natural areas. The operation was led by Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Suchart Chomklin together with Deputy Interior Minister Worasit Liangprasit. Supported by more than

A Saudi Arabian national was arrested in Phuket on July 22 after police allegedly discovered methamphetamine and cocaine during an anti-drug operation in Patong. The arrest was carried out as part of Operation 90 Days, an ongoing campaign led by Patong Police to combat drug-related crime. According to police, officers detained the suspect in the parking area outside a hotel in Patong, Kathu district. A subsequent search of his accommodation resulted in the seizure of addition

A 1.1-million-baht donation from the leadership of Phuket’s Chabad-Lubavitch Centre to Patong Hospital has sparked a lively discussion online, with many praising the charitable gesture while others questioned its purpose. On July 16, Patong Hospital announced on its official Facebook page that Rabbi Sholom Dovber Glitzenstein, co-director of the Chabad-Lubavitch Centre in Phuket, and the organisation had donated 1.1 million baht to support the hospital. Photos published by th

Residents in several parts of Phuket reported feeling light tremors on Wednesday morning after a 5.1-magnitude earthquake struck off the northern coast of Sumatra, Indonesia. According to seismic data, the earthquake occurred at 11:18am local time at a depth of around 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located approximately 381 kilometres southwest of Satun Province in southern Thailand. In Talad Yai in Phuket Town, employees working on the fourth floor of a low-rise office bui

Police in Phuket are investigating the theft of more than 627,000 baht in cash from a currency exchange booth inside Central Phuket shopping mall. Investigators believe the suspect may have had inside assistance after CCTV footage showed him opening the safe using the correct access code. According to Wichit Police, the theft occurred at around 9:13pm on July 19 at an exchange counter located in the Central Festival Phuket section of the mall. Security footage captured a man

A university student has filed a police complaint after allegedly being assaulted by a chef while completing an internship at a hotel in Phuket. The incident has drawn widespread attention after CCTV footage was shared with local media and circulated across Thai social media platforms. The student, identified only as Bee, 20, reported the incident to Patong Police Station. She said she is enrolled at a university in Nakhon Si Thammarat and began her internship at the Phuket h

Thailand has stepped up enforcement of its cannabis regulations as part of a nationwide effort to ensure the plant is used strictly for medical purposes. As part of the campaign, authorities inspected cannabis dispensaries across Phuket and identified hundreds of businesses with licensing issues. Deputy Government Spokesperson Ploythalay Lucksameesaengchan announced on July 19 that officials are intensifying inspections of cannabis cultivation and retail businesses to prevent

Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau officers have arrested a 26-year-old suspect in Phuket accused of carrying out online fraud and attempting to hack police systems to erase his own criminal records. Investigators say the man, despite having only a primary school education, learned advanced hacking techniques by using AI-powered chatbots and other artificial intelligence tools. According to Cyber Police, the suspect, identified only as Sahachat, admitted that his original goal

Thailand's Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, Sukhumbhand Chomklin, has instructed the Department of Forestry to continue taking firm action against illegal occupation of protected forest land in Phuket after rejecting an appeal submitted by investors accused of encroachment. The dispute involves an area within the Naka Kerd mountain range, close to Nui Beach, where authorities say private investors built 39 structures inside a national reserved forest. Earlier, t

Police in Phuket have arrested a 29-year-old man suspected of carrying out a series of unusual thefts involving men's and women's underwear, along with a range of other personal belongings. According to Thalang Police, the suspect, identified only as Mr. Jang, was taken into custody following an investigation launched after residents reported repeated thefts in the district. Detectives from Thalang Police Station, working under the supervision of Phuket Provincial Police, tra

A tourist has been fined after driving a car onto Layan Beach in Phuket, prompting authorities to remind visitors that vehicles are prohibited on the island's public beaches. According to Cherng Talay Police, the driver was charged with causing a nuisance or disturbance in a public place, an offence punishable by a fine of up to 10,000 baht. The incident attracted attention after beachgoers saw the vehicle travelling across the sand in an area intended for pedestrians and lei

Authorities in Phuket have intensified inspections of jet ski operators, resulting in action against 23 illegally operated watercraft as part of a campaign to improve safety standards in the island's marine tourism sector. The enforcement operation was carried out by the Phuket Regional Marine Office following instructions from Deputy Transport Minister Sornphet Boonyamanee, who recently visited the province and called for stricter supervision of maritime tourism businesses.

Tourist Police in Phuket have arrested a Myanmar national accused of illegally working as a motorcycle food delivery rider during an operation targeting unauthorized foreign employment. The arrest took place at approximately 2:10 p.m. on July 15 as part of an ongoing campaign to identify foreign nationals working in occupations that are restricted under Thai law. According to police, the suspect was employed as a food delivery driver using a motorcycle, despite not having aut

A nine-year-old student from Phuket has earned international recognition after winning two first-place awards at the International STEM Olympiad & Coding Olympiad – Grand Final 2026 in Rome, Italy. Pavin "Pace" Pattanavekin, a Grade 3 student at True Coding School Phuket, achieved the outstanding result while competing against students significantly older than himself. The school announced his success on July 12, and the achievement has since attracted widespread attention ac

A two-day auction of Phuket’s special “lucky” vehicle registration plates has generated 45,018,586 baht for Thailand’s Road Safety Fund, with overall proceeds surpassing last year’s total despite lower sales for the newest plate series. The auction was held on July 11–12 at Royal Phuket City Hotel in Phuket Town, with bidders able to participate both in person and online. The Phuket Office of the Department of Land Transport (DLT Phuket) confirmed the final revenue down to th