Russian arrested in Phuket for illegally working as tour guide

Phuket Tourist Police recently apprehended a 42 year old Russian national for unlawfully working as a tour guide at Pak Phra Beach, located adjacent to the Chong Pak Phra Channel, the body of water separating Phuket from mainland Thailand. This arrest is part of the ongoing police crackdown on foreigners operating illegally within the country.

The officers arrived at the beach, situated in Moo 5, Mai Khao, at 8am yesterday, April 2, to discover Andrei Duplinkski carrying out tour guide activities illegally. As per Thai law, being a tour guide is a profession specifically reserved for Thai citizens.

Duplinkski was arrested at the boat launch point of Pak Phra Beach, as reported by the Tourist Police. The name of the tour boat operator, however, was not included in the report, reported The Phuket News.

Post-arrest, officers escorted Duplinkski to Tha Chatchai Police Station, where he is to face charges, as confirmed by the Tourist Police.

In related news, a crackdown on illegal tour guides in Phuket led to the arrest of two foreign nationals. Police charged a 35 year old Ukrainian and a 31 year old stateless individual of highland origin, both accused of operating without proper permits.

Phuket Tourist Police, under directives from the National Police Office, has intensified efforts to purge the province of unauthorised tour guides, particularly in major tourist destinations. This move is part of a broader enforcement of regulations governing the tourism industry to ensure compliance with Thai law.

The operation, involving units from Tourist Police Division 3 (Phuket and Phang Nga), resulted in the detention of Ihor Shchedrov, a Ukrainian national, near the parking lot of an elephant camp on Wiset Road, Rawai

He was apprehended for acting as a tour guide without the necessary license as stipulated by the Tour Business and Guide Act B.E. 2551 (2008) and its amendment, the Tour Business and Guide Act (No. 2) B.E. 2559 (2016).