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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

An Australian national is alleged to have fled the scene after assaulting another foreign motorcyclist following a traffic collision and compensation dispute in Phuket's Rawai area on July 14. The incident was reported by the Phuket Times Facebook page, which published photographs showing the injured victim. The exact time of the incident was not disclosed. According to the report, the Australian rider and another foreign motorcyclist were involved in a minor collision before

The Phuket Parkland & MusicFest will return to Mai Khao later this month, bringing three days of live music, local food, shopping and family-friendly entertainment to the island’s northern district. The festival will take place from July 24 to 26 at Phuket Gateway, also known as Phuket City Gate, one of the island’s newest event venues. Plans for this year’s event were officially unveiled on July 5 during a press conference at Limelight Phuket, attended by Phuket Provincial A

Phuket authorities have intensified inspections of hotels applying to renew their operating licences as part of a broader effort to improve safety, service quality and legal compliance across the island's hospitality sector. Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom has instructed Deputy Governor Romdon Hayiawa and inspection teams to begin reviewing hotels undergoing the licence renewal process. The latest inspections covered six hotels in Karon. According to Deputy Governor Romdon, the pr

Phuket authorities have ordered a province-wide inspection of businesses and public venues following the deadly fire at a restaurant and entertainment venue in Bangkok that claimed dozens of lives. On July 13, Phuket Governor Chotnarin Kerdsom said the tragedy, which occurred the previous night on Soi Lat Phrao 1 in Bangkok, should serve as an important warning for all provinces, including Phuket. Although the incident did not occur on the island, the governor stressed that e

Teenage musician Rattikan "Nene Royal" Amlai from Phuket has received official recognition from the Thai government as she prepares to compete in the next round of America's Got Talent (AGT). On the morning of July 14, Thailand's Minister of Tourism and Sports, Surasak Phancharoenworakul, introduced the young performer to Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul during a meeting at Government House in Bangkok. The gathering highlighted the government's intention to support talented

Two British tourists are recovering after Phuket lifeguards rescued them from the sea at Nai Thon Beach in Thalang district on July 11, following a near-drowning incident. Lifeguards alerted officers from Sakhu Police Station after pulling the two men from the water. Both were reportedly unconscious when they were brought ashore, prompting an immediate response from police and emergency medical teams. The tourists were later identified as 34-year-old Samuel Ernest Preston and

Authorities in Phuket have arrested the operators of two cannabis dispensaries accused of continuing to sell cannabis despite having their business licences suspended. The coordinated operation took place on July 11 and involved officers from the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA), the Phuket Provincial Administration, the Phuket Provincial Public Health Office, Thalang District officials, and other relevant agencies. The inspections focused on cannabis shops in T

Thailand's Deputy Interior Minister Polapi Suwanachawi has continued a high-profile inspection tour of Phuket, focusing on disputed land use and illegal business operations as part of the government's ongoing campaign to restore order in the province. The visit marks the second inspection by senior officials from Bangkok in less than a month. Accompanying the deputy minister were Ronnarong Thepsiri, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Provincial Administration (DOPA)

Phuket's long-awaited Kathu–Patong tunnel remains one of the island's highest-priority transport projects, but revised plans have pushed it back to an earlier stage of the approval process, requiring a new review by Thailand's Cabinet. The change became public during a recent visit to Phuket by Deputy Transport Minister Sapphasit Boonyamanee, who confirmed that the project had been modified and must now be resubmitted to the Cabinet. If approved, officials expect the proposal

Phuket will host another auction of Thailand’s highly sought-after special vehicle registration plates this weekend, giving motorists the opportunity to bid on lucky number combinations while supporting road safety initiatives across the country. Unlike in many countries, the sale of premium license plates in Thailand is conducted through an official government auction. The proceeds are directed to the Road Safety Fund, which finances traffic safety projects and provides assi

Authorities in Phuket have begun enforcing a Supreme Court ruling ordering the demolition of a hotel development found to have illegally occupied protected land within Sirinat National Park. According to the Phuket Provincial Public Relations Office, the action forms part of the government's "Phuket Model", a province-wide initiative aimed at reclaiming protected land, accelerating legal proceedings involving encroachment, and revoking unlawfully issued land documents. Offici

A 16-year-old musician from Phuket has captured international attention after earning unanimous approval from the judges during her audition on America’s Got Talent, moving one step closer to her ambition of becoming a globally recognized artist. Rattikarn "Praew" Amloy, who performs under the stage name Nene Royal, is well known to visitors of Naka Night Market, where she regularly plays with her rock band, Ozone. The group has become a familiar attraction for both Thai resi

Thailand’s Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has arrested a foreign national accused of using Thai nominees to unlawfully operate a luxury villa rental business in Phuket. The suspect, identified only as Mr. Ajid, was taken into custody on July 8 by officers from the DSI’s Surveillance and Intelligence Center in cooperation with Immigration Police at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The arrest was made under a warrant issued by the Criminal Court on April 21, 2026. According to

Two Russian nationals have been arrested in Phuket after police seized more than 5.4 million baht during coordinated raids connected to an investigation into mule accounts allegedly used by call centre scam networks. The operation took place on July 8 after the Anti-Cyber Scam Centre alerted officers from Provincial Police Region 8 and Phuket Provincial Police to suspicious banking activity. Investigators had identified Russian nationals repeatedly withdrawing large sums of c