South Thailand News
Southern Thailand news, Phuket news, Koh Samui news, and Krabi updates—stay informed on business, tourism, and local events from Trang, Songkhla, Yala, and beyond. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted Southern Thailand news source.
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Israeli man held for illegal business, land ownership on Koh Pha Ngan
An Israeli man wanted for a nominee-run business and illegal land ownership on Koh Pha Ngan was arrested at Samui International Airport in Surat Thani yesterday, June 10. Officers from the Centre for Combating Transnational Crime and Illegal Immigration (CTIC) recently reported to the media that 45 arrest warrants were issued in May during a crackdown targeting nominee businesses on…
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Koh Lanta beaches closed over Portuguese man o’ war
A Mu Ko Lanta National Park in Krabi will temporarily close three popular tourist spots after officials found large numbers of highly venomous Portuguese man o’ war washed up along beaches. Mu Ko Lanta National Park chief Pramote Kaewnam said yesterday, June 10, that the affected areas are the national park office area at Laem Tanod, Koh Tung Gulima, also…
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Koh Pha Ngan temple event host says no noise complaint from foreigner
The host of a Thai ordination ceremony on Koh Pha Ngan denied a noise complaint and interference from a foreigner, stating that a viral social media post had caused a misunderstanding. The host described the foreign man as understanding and only inquired about the noise. A Koh Pha Ngan ordination ceremony became the centre of online debate after a social media…
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Bail revoked for Brit in Koh Pha Ngan case after Thai doctor dies
A court in Koh Samui yesterday, June 8, revoked bail for a British man accused in a Koh Pha Ngan motorcycle hit-and-run case after a Thai respiratory specialist died from his injuries. The case concerns the death of Associate Professor Dr Theerasuk Kawamatawong, a respiratory and critical care specialist and medical lecturer at the Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital, Mahidol…
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Grandfather’s pet monkey kills 6 year old boy in Nakhon Si Thammarat
A six year old boy died after being attacked by a pet monkey belonging to his grandfather in Sichon district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Saturday, June 6. The incident occurred in Ban Khao Yuan Tao community, Thepparat subdistrict. The child had walked alone to a grocery shop owned by his grandfather, Jamroon, when the fatal monkey attack took place. According…
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Relative accused of shooting Phatthalung village headman dead
A village headman was shot dead during a community meeting in Phatthalung today, June 7, with police later arresting a relative accused of carrying out the attack. Police were called at around 2.10pm to a village hall in Chai Buri subdistrict, Mueang Phatthalung district, after receiving a report of a fatal shooting. The victim was identified as 57 year old…
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Thailand mourns doctor killed after Koh Pha Ngan hit-and-run
A respiratory and critical care specialist has died after he was seriously injured in a Koh Pha Ngan hit-and-run involving a British motorcyclist who later tested positive for cocaine. Vimut Hospital Phahonyothin announced the death of Associate Professor Dr Theerasuk Kawamatawong in a Facebook post today, June 7. The hospital said Dr Theerasuk worked as a specialist in respiratory disease…
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Thai woman found dead after missing during trekking trip
A missing woman, who went missing during a trekking trip in the forest on the border between Phatthalung and Trang provinces, was found dead near a waterfall today, June 4, bringing a four-day search operation to a tragic end. The 53 year old Thai woman, Wanthanee, also known as Ae, went missing on June 1 after separating from a group…
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Venomous bluebottle jellyfish wash up on Phang Nga beaches
A large number of bluebottle jellyfish have washed up on two beaches in Phang Nga following rough monsoon conditions, prompting officials to warn beachgoers today, June 4, to avoid contact with the venomous marine creatures. The warning covers Bang Sak Beach and Ban Nam Khem Beach in Bang Muang subdistrict, Takua Pa district, where strong waves in the Andaman Sea…
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Spanish nationals linked to Krabi pool villa nominee probe
Krabi officials raided a luxury pool villa in Nong Thale subdistrict, Mueang Krabi district, yesterday, June 2, as part of an investigation into suspected nominee shareholding involving foreign business operators. Krabi Governor Angkoon Silatewakul led the operation after officials obtained a Krabi Provincial Court warrant to search the villa, which sits on more than 1 rai of land. Officials said…
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Thai customs seizes One Piece cards worth 2 million baht
Thai Customs seized 30 boxes of One Piece card game products worth more than 2 million baht at the Sadao border checkpoint in Songkhla on May 31 after officers found the goods near an arrival gate with no owner present. The Customs Department said officers from Sadao Customs House were inspecting and monitoring the checkpoint area for customs offences when…
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Koh Samui taxi mafia crackdown targets illegal turf control
A Koh Samui taxi mafia crackdown in Surat Thani began yesterday, May 28, as officials moved to dismantle taxi queue groups accused of occupying public areas and stopping other legal taxis from picking up passengers. Koh Samui district chief Amorn Chumchuay led the operation with Koh Samui district officials, transport officers, police, tourist police, and municipal officers. The operation targeted…
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Brit arrested for hit-and-run in Koh Pha Ngan, victim in coma
Police arrested a British motorcyclist for a hit-and-run incident on Koh Pha Ngan on Saturday, May 23, that left a Thai doctor in a coma. Colleagues of the injured doctor, Theerasuk “Ton” Kawamatawong, contacted several media outlets seeking justice after the crash, which occurred at about 8.40pm on a road behind the Koh Pha Ngan District Office. CCTV footage shared…
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Gun videos lead police to Indian man with drugs on Koh Pha Ngan
Police arrested an Indian man on Koh Pha Ngan yesterday, May 23, after videos showed a foreigner posing with guns and practising shooting, with officers later finding drugs and drug price lists on his phone. The suspect, identified as 33 year old Shabeelkunnon Valappil, was arrested at a residence in Koh Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani. Police charged him with…
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Russian tour guide arrested for working without licence
Tourist police in Phang Nga arrested a Russian national yesterday, May 21, for working illegally as a tour guide while accompanying a group of foreign tourists. The suspect, whose identity has not been released, was arrested at the car park of the Phang Nga Wildlife Breeding Station after officials earlier observed him guiding tourists at Suwan Kuha Temple. According to…
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Thai police criticised for seeking help from children during arrest
Two high-school students in Nakhon Si Thammarat helped police restrain a suspect on a public road, prompting a debate online about the safety and appropriateness of civilian involvement in police operations. Footage of the incident was shared by TikTok user @jxjxens before being reposted by several news outlets and Facebook pages. It showed two police officers struggling with a man…
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Songkhla school director killed in hostage incident receives royal honour
Sasiphat Sinsamosorn, the former director of a school in Songkhla, has been posthumously granted the Most Noble Order of the Crown of Thailand after sacrificing herself to protect teachers and students during a school shooting incident that led to a hostage situation. The Royal Gazette published the royal command yesterday, May 19, announcing the royal decoration for the deceased teacher.…
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Three arrested after 10-kilometre drug chase in Chumphon
Highway police arrested three suspects and seized more than 20,000 methamphetamine pills and crystal meth following a 10-kilometre car chase in Chumphon today, May 17. The suspects were identified as 33 year old Teerapong, 25 year old Suwapat, and 25 year old Pongsakorn. Police seized 20,200 methamphetamine pills and 52.13 grammes of crystal meth during the operation in Hat Phan…
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Officials say foreigners own only 6% of Koh Pha Ngan following locals’ concerns
The director of Thailand’s Land Department stated that foreign nationals own only six percent of land on Koh Pha Ngan, following growing concerns among residents about increasing foreign influence on the island. Concerns intensified in recent years as the number of long-stay foreign residents, particularly Israeli nationals, has increased on Koh Pha Ngan. Some locals fear the island could gradually…
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Koh Pha Ngan nominee raids target 32 suspected companies
More than 300 police officers raided 32 companies on Koh Pha Ngan this morning, May 13, as part of a crackdown on suspected foreign nominee businesses allegedly using Thai nationals to hold land on behalf of foreigners. Deputy national police chief Samran Nualma led the operation at 9am alongside officers from multiple police units, including the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau,…
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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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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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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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Koh Pha Ngan raid exposes illegal school, unregistered foreign teachers
A Koh Pha Ngan childcare centre was raided on May 1 after officials found it was allegedly operating outside the scope of its licence with unregistered foreign teachers and 163 children enrolled. Surat Thani Immigration police, Koh Pha Ngan police, district officials, and Internal Security Operations Command Region 4 officers inspected the property. The centre was licensed as a childcare facility operated…
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Phatthalung police accused of deceiving mentally ill man into gambling
Parents accused a police officer in Phatthalung of deceiving their mentally ill son into gambling, leading to losses of around 120,000 baht. The parents, 46 year old Yupaporn and 53 year old Thanasak, sought help from a local journalist, claiming their 20 year old son Peerasak was targeted by a police senior sergeant major identified as Suea, who serves under…
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Thai couple allegedly kills man after swindling his money using AI generated profile
A Thai couple allegedly operated a romance scam using artificial intelligence (AI) to create a social media profile, and murdered a victim in Surat Thani after their criminal action was caught. The victim, 61 year old Wichit Chompong, was found with more than 10 gunshot wounds in a roadside plantation in Son Sak district. His mobile phone was damaged and…
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Shooting at Nakhon Si Thammarat wedding leaves six injured
Six people were injured in a wedding shooting in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, April 28, after a dispute between guests from the bride’s and groom’s sides escalated into gunfire. Police were called to the scene in Tha Sala at around 3.30am following reports of a shooting, with multiple injuries, at the event. Rescue workers had already taken the injured to…
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Thai woman found dead in Nakhon Si Thammarat hotel after meeting her ex
A Thai woman was found dead in a hotel room in Nakhon Si Thammarat yesterday, April 22, after arriving with her ex-boyfriend, who told staff that the woman had fainted and left the scene. Officers from Mueang Nakhon Si Thammarat Police Station were called to the hotel at around 9pm. The woman, later identified as 31 year old Kimyong, was…
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Family honours man’s final wish with funeral dancers
Three dancers were hired to perform in front of a coffin during a funeral on April 20 in Nakhon Si Thammarat, after the family said they were honouring the deceased man’s final wish. The funeral took place on the final night for 59 year old Winit at his home in Ron Phibun district, Nakhon Si Thammarat. A Facebook page livestreamed…
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