Hot News
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Thai woman caught in Oman with over 4.4 koligrammes of cannabis
Omani Customs officials arrested a Thai woman for smuggling cannabis weighing more than 4.4 kilogrammes through Muscat International Airport. The Oman Customs Department shared footage of the arrest on its official X account on May 5. In the accompanying statement, officials stated… “Customs officers at Muscat International Airport thwarted an attempt to smuggle 4,384 grammes of marijuana, which was found in…
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Krabi official registers marriage for drug suspect before arrest
A district chief in Krabi allowed a suspected drug dealer to register his marriage before the man was sent to prison following his drug arrest yesterday, May 11. Officials in Mueang Krabi district said the suspect, known as “Dome Koh Klang,” was arrested during an operation targeting small-scale drug dealers in Khlong Prasong subdistrict. Officers allegedly found 399 methamphetamine pills in his…
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3 Chinese men held for turning Pattaya house into Pod K production
Police arrested three Chinese nationals after uncovering a luxury house in Pattaya, Chon buri, being used to produce ketamine-laced e-cigarettes, locally known as Pod K. Officers from the Economic Crime Suppression Division (ECD) and Chon Buri Provincial Police raided the property in Bang Lamung district at around 4.30pm yesterday, May 11. The operation followed reports that a group of Chinese nationals…
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iOS 26.5 is out and it finally lets iPhone and Android users message each other securely
If you have ever texted someone on Android and wondered why your messages do not have the same privacy protections as the ones you send to other iPhone users, iOS 26.5 is the update you have been waiting for. Apple has released iOS 26.5, and its headline feature is end-to-end encrypted RCS messaging between iPhones and Android devices. What this…
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Foreign man remains at large after injuring Phuket teenager in hit-and-run
A Thai mother is seeking public assistance in identifying a foreign motorcyclist after her teenage son was seriously injured in a hit-and-run in Phuket on May 10. The crash occurred at around 2.30pm in Rawai subdistrict. According to the mother, who shared details on her Facebook account, Rainbow Sarnrach, a foreign man riding a motorcycle with two passengers, suddenly changed lanes…
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Chinese weapon suspects suffers seizure after 4-day hunger strike in Pattaya prison
The Chinese weapon suspect, Mingchen Sun, was rushed to the hospital last night, May 11, after reportedly suffering seizures and severe exhaustion following a four-day hunger strike while being detained at Pattaya Remand Prison. The 31 year old suspect has been in custody since his arrest in Chon Buri on May 8 after a car crash in Sattahip district led…
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Foreign rider damages rental motorcycle in Phuket during off-road riding
A foreign motorcyclist, believed to be a Russian national, drew criticism online after a video showed him damaging a rental motorcycle while attempting to ride off-road in Phuket. The footage was shared today, May 11, by the Phuket Times Facebook page, which claimed the incident involved a foreign rider using a rented motorcycle on an off-road track in Phuket. The motorcycle…
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Chinese man’s military-grade weapons linked to Thai police and military officers
Several police officers and military personnel linked to a Chinese national found in possession of firearms, military-grade weapons, and explosives in Chon Buri province. The investigation began after 31 year old Chinese national Mingchen Sun crashed his vehicle in Sattahip district, Chon Buri, on May 9 while travelling with a Taiwanese woman. Officers from Na Jomtien Police Station examined the…
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Bangkok transwoman reportedly forced to shave hairs for insulting Quran
A group of Muslims gathered outside a restaurant in Ramkhamhaeng area of Bangkok allegedly to pressure a transwoman to issue an apology and shave her hairs for insulting the holy Quran during a livestreaming video on social media. The transwoman, identified only as Lor, reportedly grew up in a Muslim community in Narathiwat before later moving to Bangkok for work.…
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Can you bring a drone into Thailand in 2026?
Drones have become one of the most popular pieces of travel gear, and Thailand is one of the world’s most photographed destinations. So it is no surprise that a lot of travellers want to bring a drone to Thailand. The short answer is yes, you can bring one in, but the longer answer is that getting it through the airport…
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5 Russian nationals held after viral altercation in Phuket night market
Five Russian nationals were arrested following a violent altercation at a night market in Phuket after footage of the incident circulated widely on Thai social media yesterday, May 10. The Phuket Times Facebook page shared videos from the disturbance at Midtown Phuket Night Market with a caption alleging, “A drunk foreign man caused trouble in the city centre by assaulting…
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Chinese tourists filmed with protected parrotfish and starfish in Phuket
Phuket locals are calling for legal action against a group of Chinese nationals after videos circulated online showed them hunting protected parrotfish and handling starfish at Kata Beach. The footage, which spread widely on Thai social media, prompted criticism from residents and environmental supporters concerned about the treatment of marine wildlife and the lack of immediate enforcement action by officials.…
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Thaksin returns home from prison with EM bracelet after parole release
Former Thai Prime Minister (PM), Thaksin Shinawatra, was released from Khlong Prem Central Prison in Bangkok with electronic monitoring (EM) bracelet this morning, May 11, and returned to his family home. Speculation about Thaksin’s release had circulated on Thai social media since April. The former PM was sentenced to a year in prison following his controversial stay at Police General…
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Hong Kong activist Zhang Xinyan arrested in Thailand
Hong Kong activist Zhang Xinyan, a wanted member of the overseas group Hong Kong Parliament, has been arrested in Thailand for overstaying her visa and is reportedly set to be deported to mainland China. According to the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong Parliament is an overseas pro-democracy activist group mainly founded and run by self-exiled Hong Kong activists. Sunai…
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Bangkok MP questions AOT fee hike despite billion-baht profits
Bangkok MP Suphanat Minchaiynunt has questioned the government over AOT’s planned airport fee increase from 730 baht to 1,120 baht per international departure passenger from June 20, 2026. The increase of more than 50% has drawn public debate amid rising living costs and higher travel expenses. AOT cited the need to fund airport improvements to meet ICAO standards. Suphanat Minchaiynunt…
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AI camera catches Nigerian, Ivorian men overstaying in Phuket
Tourist police in Phuket arrested two foreign nationals who had allegedly overstayed their visas for more than two years after an AI facial recognition system flagged them on May 8 in Kathu district. The arrests were made during a crackdown on foreigners suspected of immigration offences and other illegal activity in major tourist areas. Tourist police said the operation followed…
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Koh Pha Ngan resort crackdown probes nominee ownership claims
Officials inspected four resorts in Sri Thanu on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, May 9, arresting three hotel operators over alleged unlicensed hotel businesses as part of a wider probe into foreign-linked companies and possible nominee ownership. The operation involved officers from the Department of Provincial Administration, Surat Thani Immigration Bureau, and Koh Pha Ngan police. Sri Thanu, in Koh Pha…
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Nakhon Si Thammarat theft suspect consumes 25 meth pills before arrest
Police in Nakhon Si Thammarat arrested a theft suspect today, May 8, after he allegedly stole 40,000 baht, used part of the money to buy methamphetamine, and consumed 25 pills in less than 24 hours. Police identified the suspect as 39 year old Arin from Bangkok’s Lat Krabang district. He was arrested at a rented house in Tha Sala district…
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Thai monks deceive children into ordaining and use them for donations in Malaysia
Parents of seven children, aged between three and 11, sought assistance after two monks in Prachuap Khiri Khan deceived them into ordaining as novices and soliciting donations in Malaysia. The case came to light after police in Kedah, Malaysia, arrested two Thai monks on April 7 on suspicion of human trafficking. Malaysian police said they had monitored the pair’s activities…
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8 Chinese nationals held in Chiang Mai for illegal series production
Eight Chinese nationals were arrested for illegally filming a social media drama series without permission in an accommodation in the Hang Dong district in Chiang Mai. Officers from Tourist Police Division 2 acted on a complaint that a group of Chinese nationals had rented accommodation in the district and were using it as a filming location. The complainants questioned whether the…
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Drone laws in Thailand for people who do not want to lose their equipment or break the law
Thailand has some of the strictest drone laws in Southeast Asia, and they have tightened significantly over the past two years. Whether you are a tourist bringing a DJI Mini or an expat who flies regularly, the rules apply to everyone equally, and the consequences for getting them wrong range from equipment confiscation to deportation. Here is what you need…
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Thai mother seeks help to locate missing child after babysitter swaps baby
A Thai woman is seeking help to locate her missing child after a babysitter allegedly lost the infant and replaced the baby with another child. The 24 year old mother, identified only as Joy, approached the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women to assist in finding her biological child. She said she had already taken legal action against the babysitter,…
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5 things to do in Bangkok this weekend (May 8 to 10)
Bangkok has a strong mix this weekend, especially if you are after plans that feel a little more worthwhile than just another casual outing. Coffee is one of the big themes, with a major international trade show in town and the Thailand AeroPress Championship closing out the week in Talat Noi. Alongside that, there is a large finance expo, a…
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Foreign woman dies after motorcycle hits van on Phuket road
A foreign woman died, and a man was seriously injured after a head-on motorcycle crash involving a van on Patak Road in Karon, Phuket, at around 8pm on Wednesday, May 6. Footage of the incident circulated on Thai social media yesterday, May 7. The crash occurred on a curve near the Holiday Inn hotel in Karon district. The video showed…
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Foreign family caught using children to steal from Phuket convenience store
A foreign family allegedly stole items from a convenience store in Patong, Phuket, on May 6, and challenged the staff to pursue legal action. The incident occurred at around 8pm, with video later posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page on May 7. The family’s nationality was reported as Israeli, but this has not been confirmed by police. CCTV footage…
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Malaysian man possible blacklisted for damaging Hat Yai police wheel clamp
A Malaysian man faces a 3,000 baht fine and possible blacklisting from Thailand after damaging a police wheel clamp in Hat Yai district, Songkhla, on May 4. A traffic police officer from Hat Yai Police Station had placed the clamp on a black Mercedes-Benz registered in Malaysia after it was parked in a prohibited area on Prachathipat Road. A traffic…
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British man allegedly goes on rampage, damaging motorcycles and shop sign in Phuket
A British man reportedly went on a rampage in Phuket, damaging motorcycles and a food shop sign with a knife, yesterday, May 6. Images and footage of the incident were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page with a caption that read… “A British man went on a rampage in Phuket, brandishing a knife and shouting. It is believed that…
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Chinese programmer caught in Bangkok over game company hack
A Chinese programmer was arrested in Bangkok today, May 7, and is set to be deported after he was accused of hacking a major game company in China and causing damages worth about 9 million baht. The man, identified as 34 year old Wang, was detained at a building on Sukhumvit Road, Khlong Tan Nuea, Watthana, Bangkok. Thai police and…
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Burmese man sustains severe burns after alleged attack by 6 Chinese nationals
A Burmese construction worker alleged that six Chinese supervisors beat him, poured boiling water over his body, and threatened to remove his nails during an hours-long attack at a restaurant in Rayong on April 30. The victim, identified as 27 year old Tata, sought help from Thai social media influencer Guntouch “Gun” Pongpaiboonwet after suffering severe injuries with extensive burn…
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Thai driver, Chinese nationals caught in Sa Kaeo after 70km chase
A suspected smuggling operation was exposed in Sa Kaeo yesterday, May 6, after police arrested a Thai pickup driver following a 70-kilometre chase through Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao and Sa Kaeo, with six Chinese nationals found inside the vehicle. The pursuit began after highway police received a tip-off that Chinese nationals were being transported from the Sa Kaeo border to Bangkok.…
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