Phuket News
Phuket news, politics, business, tourism, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, events, and expat updates from Thailand’s top island destination. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Phuket news source.
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House Committee gets down to earth on Phuket land disputes
The Committee on Land, Natural Resources and Environment from the House of Representatives yesterday landed in Phuket to conduct a study tour and resolve land disputes. The visit, led by the committee chairman, Apichart Sirisunthon, who also holds the position of Secretary-General of the Move Forward Party (MFP), sought to address the local land disputes and wastewater issues. Numerous complaints…
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Phuket cops raid gambling den, 4 Russians and Ukrainian arrested
A gambling den in Ratsada, north of Phuket Town, was raided by the Phuket Provincial Police and Phuket City Police in the early hours of today, resulting in the arrest of four Russian nationals and a Ukrainian. The operation, which was executed following an insider tip-off, occurred at a site on Thepkrasattri Road in Moo 6, Ratsada, in the vicinity…
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Phuket gardener sought for murder after drunken dispute
Phuket law enforcement officers are on a manhunt for a 55 year old gardener who is suspected of murdering his 48 year old colleague from Sisaket following a drunken disagreement in Wichit yesterday evening. The incident took place in a makeshift dwelling on Soi Thep Anusorn 4, in Moo 2, Wichit, with police alerted to the scene around 11.15pm. Upon arrival,…
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Phuket police crack down on foreign-run businesses
A crackdown on foreign-operated car and bike rental businesses suspected of using nominee shareholders has been initiated by police in Phuket. The campaign was inaugurated with a raid on a rental enterprise in Moo 7, Srisoonthorn, yesterday, March 19. This operation, led by Region 8 Police Commander, Surapong Thanomjit, saw more than 100 vehicles confiscated. Surapong Thanomjit revealed that five…
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Employees engaged in violent brawl in Patong
A violent clash erupted among employees of the same company in Patong, Phuket, after work hours, drawing attention and concern toward the tourist city’s image. The brawl, which took place in the middle of a busy roundabout, was captured in a 1-minute 28-second video and shared on social media, sparking a mix of comments ranging from calls for calm to…
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American arrested for violating Foreign Business Act in Thailand
An American citizen was apprehended by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) for violating the Foreign Business Act. The arrest occurred following allegations of illegal profit redirection from a luxury villa estate developer. The individual in question, referred to as David, was taken into custody at the entrance of Jomtien Hospital in Chon Buri, around 11am last Thursday, as per…
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Thai Teen surrenders, confesses to Phuket petrol station murder
The teenager suspected of murdering another Thai man at a Phuket petrol station voluntarily surrendered to the Cherng Talay Police Station yesterday. Kiattisak “Gus” Thawornphon was immediately apprehended and questioned by the police. The 18 year old was the subject of an arrest warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial Court for the alleged murder of 21 year old Teerapat Suksrimuang,…
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Chalong resident hits 30 million baht jackpot in national lottery
Champagne corks popped for a resident of Chalong, Phuket, after she hit the jackpot, winning a colossal 30 million baht from the National Government Lottery. Naranun Ruchichaiyapat revealed her good fortune yesterday, March 17, upon receiving the hefty cash prize from Panthawat “Not” Nakwisut, the CEO of the lottery ticket application, Lottery Plus. The 44 year old woman, who is…
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Patong prepares for Songkran Music Festival on the Beach 2024
Patong is gearing up for the annual Songkran Festival celebrations, with a press conference in place on March 15. The conference was held at Bangla Plaza, Patong Beach, at 5pm, to discuss the upcoming Songkran Music Festival On The Beach 2024, scheduled for April 12 to April 14. The Phuket Governor, Sophon Suwannarat, led the press conference and was accompanied…
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Third Russian woman nabbed in Patong for illegal sex services
Phuket Immigration arrested a third Russian woman at a Patong hotel for providing sex services illegally. The operation unfolded following a tip-off about illegal activities involving Russian prostitutes in the area. The undercover sting operation orchestrated by the police targeted the woman, who had been discreetly advertised on an undisclosed website. Going by the moniker Linda Agency on WhatsApp, the Russian…
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DSI to probe Phuket businesses over potential labour law evasion
The Department of Special Investigation (DSI) has disclosed that a rigorous probe will be undertaken into nine Phuket-based businesses suspected of employing Thai nominees to evade labour laws limiting specific industries to Thai nationals only. Among these organisations is the Green Elephant Sanctuary Park, managed by Urs Fehr, a 45 year old Swiss national known for an incident last month…
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Phuket mayor guarantees drought-proof supply for dry season
The Phuket Town mayor confirmed that the Phuket City Municipality has a sufficient water supply to sustain residents throughout the remainder of the dry season. However, he is encouraging residents to be mindful of their water consumption. Currently, the municipality’s water reserves are 80% full, according to Mayor Saroj Angkanapilas. This supply is anticipated to be ample for producing tap…
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Singaporean motorist lashes out at Thai police officer over fine
A Singaporean man attacked a Thai police officer after he was fined for riding a motorcycle without a license and a helmet in Phuket. The incident occurred when traffic officers from the Cherng Talay Police Station stopped the Singaporean man, 37 year old Lim Jia Jie, at the Cherng Talay Intersection checkpoint on March 13. Lim was riding a motorcycle…
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Phuket ramps up tourist security measures ahead of visa-free travel
The national commander of the Tourist Police, Police Lieutenant General Saksira Phueakam, and Police Major General Manat Sriwongsa, Deputy Commander of the Immigration Bureau, arrived in Phuket yesterday in a bid to enhance the safety and convenience for tourists visiting the popular holiday destination. The visit saw them accompanied by Police Major General Phopphon Chakkaphak, Commander of Tourist Police Division…
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Thai police hunt Tajik suspect in Russian man’s murder in Phuket
Thai police identified a Tajik man as a suspect in the murder of a Russian man at a cannabis farm in Phuket. The accused foreigner already left Thailand on March 12. A 34 year old Thai man, Burin, filed a report on the missing Russian man, 42 year old Artur Mkhitarian, at Chalong Police Station yesterday, March 13. Burin explained…
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Brief burglary: Panty thief evades Phuket police pursuit
An underwear thief who managed to steal over 20 items of women’s underwear in one swoop is being pursued by the Patong Police in Phuket. The audacious theft, which was captured on CCTV, has been circulating widely across local social media channels since yesterday. The victim of the theft, a 42 year old woman who requested to be referred to…
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Phuket’s annual Heroines Festival honours historical defenders
Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat officiated a ceremony yesterday at Wat Mueang Komaraphat, in Tambon Thepkrasattri, Thalang, in honour of Phuket’s revered Heroines, Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Soonthorn, who were instrumental in defending the island against Burmese intruders in 1785. Initiated at 5.30pm, the ceremony was marked by a procession that kicked off from the Ban Khian shrine and…
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Tides of tranquility disrupted: Yaba drug bust rocks Phi Phi, Krabi
The peaceful waters of Phi Phi Island and Haad Nopparat Thara Beach in Krabi, renowned tourist spots in Thailand, were disrupted by an unforeseen drug bust. The authorities apprehended two tour speedboat captains upon uncovering methamphetamine tablets, locally referred to as Yaba, concealed aboard their vessels. The first arrest transpired off the coast of Phi Phi Island Pier, according to…
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Farang mafia: Phuket businesses welcomes Thais, sometimes
Businesses in Phuket have denied favouring foreign tourists over Thai residents and visitors. Business operators in the popular seaside resort of Thailand, particularly entertainment venues and vehicle rental shops, expressed pleasure in welcoming Thai tourists but acknowledged that they might encounter being turned away from certain businesses or during specific times. The controversy unfolded as Thai and foreign netizens shared…
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Foreign man sexually assaults pregnant horse in Phuket
CCTV cameras at a horse farm in the Thalang district of Phuket province featured a foreign man sexually assaulting a pregnant horse, causing the animal to suffer a miscarriage. The horse owner revealed that the foreigner was an 18 year old American from Fairfax County, Virginia named Steven Lee Snyder, adding that the perverted teenager had committed this disturbing act multiple…
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Phuket governor inspects Laem Nga beach reclaiming plans for public use
Sophon Suwannarat, the Governor of Phuket, undertook an inspection of Laem Nga Beach, situated at Koh Siray’s northern end yesterday. The primary objective was to evaluate plans for reclaiming the beach for public use. Last Thursday, local villagers assembled at the site to oppose the beach access’s closure by a private landowner. The protest sparked immediate action from officials who…
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Transcending trouble: Thai transwomen tussle with tourists in Phuket
A video has gone viral in Thailand of two Thai transwomen physically assaulting some foreign men in the Patong neighbourhood of Phuket. Police admitted that the transwomen may be sex workers, and the attack may have been sparked over a service fee dispute. The video fracas was shared by the Instagram account @phuketinsta last week with a caption in Russian…
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Phuket authorities seek dissolution of Swiss man’s Green Elephant Foundation
Phuket‘s provincial authorities, led by Governor Sophon Suwannarat, are seeking the dissolution of the Green Elephant Wildlife Foundation. Swiss expat Urs Fehr registered the foundation, which is now under investigation after a series of controversies. The announcement came after Governor Sophon’s return from promoting Phuket at the International Tourism Bourse (ITB Berlin 2024). His first official action was a meeting…
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Phuket authorities given 3-day deadline to investigate beach access blockage
The Phuket authorities face a three-day deadline to probe the ownership of a land plot belonging to a private company in Phuket that obstructs public access to Laem Nga Beach. This directive was given by Vice Governor Sattha Thongkham on Friday following a demonstration by approximately 500 individuals at the blocked beachfront property the previous day. The protesters demanded that…
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Swiss scandal sparks crackdown on unruly farangs in Thailand
The scandal involving a Swiss man assaulting a Thai doctor in Phuket prompted authorities to initiate a massive crackdown on illegal foreigners and farangs behaving badly in Thailand. In total, nearly 30 foreigners were arrested during the past weeks. Following the physical assault on a Thai doctor outside the luxury villa of a Swiss man, locals in Phuket demanded that…
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Australian fugitive nabbed in Phuket for visa overstay
Phuket Provincial Police apprehended a 26 year old Australian fugitive who had been lurking in a hotel near the Sri Kor Intersection in Kathu, Phuket. The Australian man, whose identity remains undisclosed by authorities, committed a double crime of visa overstay and bill evasion, spiralling from a tangled web of incidents dating back to January 31. The tale began with…
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2 foreigners in Phuket caught running businesses without licences
Phuket Provincial Tourist Police arrested two foreigners for running their businesses, a money exchange shop and a travel agency, without licences. The arrests stem from a crackdown on illegal foreigners and their businesses following the Swiss man scandal. Prompted by the conflict between the Swiss man and the Thai doctor, as well as complaints from locals, all Phuket police departments…
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Swiss man’s visa revoked after physical assault on Thai doctor
The Immigration Bureau revoked the visa of the Swiss man involved in the physical assault on a female Thai doctor near Yamu Cape in Phuket last week. The Thai doctor, 26 year old Tarndao Chandam, filed a complaint against Urs Fehr after the Swiss man attacked her on Saturday, February 24 when she and her friend sat on the steps…
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Phuket anti-corruption commission probes Cape Yamu Villas land legitimacy
A thorough investigation has been initiated by the Phuket branch of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC Phuket) into the legitimacy of land documents for the luxury Cape Yamu Villas. This probe was motivated by concerns about potential encroachment onto public land at Yamu Beach in Pa Klok and the possible involvement of corrupt officials. NACC Phuket’s Director, Suwat Saowaran, alongside…
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Russian roulette: Cops put brakes on illegal workers at Phuket car shop
Officers from the Provincial Police Region 8 yesterday continued the recent crackdown on illegal foreigners by charging two Russian men for working at a car rental shop in the Cherng Talay sub-district in the Talang district of Phuket province. The Russian business owner also faced a charge for hiring foreigners without work permits. The investigation is on the back of locals…
Phuket is a province in the south of Thailand. Phuket's beaches face the Andaman Sea allowing the west coast beaches fantastic sunsets right throughout the year. If you're looking for news in Phuket, go to thethaiger.com/phuket Or follow our instant news in our Facebook pages.
The good news is that Phuket is famous for its foodie scene with an enormously diverse range of local and international foods - Phuket and southern favorites, street food along with international choices catering for the 12 million visitors to the island each year. Thaiger follows Phuket news and information 24 hours a day with regular updates.
Phuket is only 'just' an island with a 300 metre bridge linking it to Thailand's mainland. We're always reporting in the news that the channel beneath is frequently dredged to maintain Phuket's status as an island. On the other side of Sarasin Bridge is the Province of Phang Nga.
Getting to Phuket is easy as the island has land, air and sea connections. Phuket is also used as a take-off point for local island trips as Thailand's largest island is surrounded by over 30 pristine islands. Koh Phi Phi and the famous Maya Bay are always in the news and would be the best known of the island's just off Phuket's shores.
Phuket is an island and a province. It's the largest island in Thailand – 48 km north to south, 21 km east to west.
It's about 20% smaller, in area, than Singapore but much less densely populated. Whilst the island nation of Singapore boasts a population of nearly 6 million, Phuket has a permanent population of around 400-450,000 (but varies a lot with the influx of tourists and a workforce that is always changing). Most of Phuket remains jungle and tropical rainforest despite an acceleration of development over the past 20 years.
Unlike some of Thailand's other popular islands (that are in the Gulf of Thailand), the news is that Phuket is located in the Andaman Sea.
Phuket is 878 km north of the equator.
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