Phuket Cracks Down on Hookah Lounges, Seizes Smoking Equipment Worth ฿630,000

Phuket authorities have stepped up enforcement against hookah lounges as part of the nationwide Operation 90 Days anti-drug campaign, carrying out two consecutive raids that resulted in the seizure of hookah equipment and tobacco worth approximately 630,000 baht.

The inspections targeted entertainment venues in Ratsada and Rawai after officials said they had received complaints from local residents. In both operations, undercover officers conducted test purchases before authorities moved in.

The first raid took place on July 31 at an unnamed entertainment venue in Ratsada. The operation was led by Phuket Vice Governor Ketrat Chansilp and Mueang Phuket District Chief Siwatch Rawangkul, with Territorial Defence Volunteers (OrSor) providing operational support. Police officers were not directly involved in the raid.

After undercover officials successfully ordered a hookah and obtained a payment receipt, inspection teams entered the premises and carried out a search. A 33-year-old Thai woman, identified as the venue's manager, was detained.

Authorities seized 13 fully assembled hookahs, 32 hookah bowls, seven hoses, two charcoal heating devices, 215 grams of hookah tobacco, one electronic smoking device, and a QR code used for receiving customer payments. Officials estimated the value of the confiscated items at around 130,000 baht.

A second operation followed on August 3 at a venue in Rawai, using the same undercover strategy. After officers completed a test purchase, inspection teams entered the premises and detained one Thai national and one Myanmar national.

During the search, authorities confiscated 41 packs of hookah tobacco weighing approximately 13.1 kilograms, 27 hookahs, 238 mouthpieces, 43 hookah bowls, and additional smoking equipment. The seized property was valued at more than 500,000 baht.

Both suspects were charged with possessing and selling goods prohibited from import under Thailand's Customs Act, as well as selling or providing hookahs, electronic hookahs, and electronic cigarettes. The confiscated evidence was transferred to Phuket Town and Chalong police stations for further legal proceedings.

Although cannabis has been legalized in Thailand under certain regulations, hookahs remain effectively prohibited. Thai law does not permit their legal import, meaning both hookah equipment and tobacco are treated as illegally imported goods. Separate government regulations also ban the sale and provision of hookahs, electronic hookahs, and e-cigarettes to customers.

The latest operations continue Phuket's long-running campaign against hookah businesses. Earlier this year, in February, officials raided the Russian-operated Safari Lounge Bar at Boat Avenue, where at least 17 hookahs were confiscated and a Russian manager was arrested.

That operation was overseen by then-provincial permanent secretary Rungruang Thimabut, who has since been removed from office and is now involved in separate criminal investigations. Thimabut has claimed the legal action against him is linked to his campaign against entertainment venues in the Bang Tao area that he alleged were violating Thai law. He has also filed complaints with police regarding the matter.