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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Eight Chinese nationals arrested for illegal work in Phuket
Thai police yesterday apprehended eight Chinese nationals illegally working as contractors at a construction site in Thalang district, Phuket. The operation, carried out by the Immigration Bureau in collaboration with local security forces, followed a tip-off from a concerned citizen. Upon arrival at the construction site in Thep Krasattri subdistrict, yesterday, February 24, police encountered over 10 foreign people. When…
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Island crackdown: Phuket ups the ante on illegal foreign workers
Phuket officials announced they are getting tough on the wave of illegal foreign workers casting a shadow on the island’s paradise status. A high-stakes meeting unfolded at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February 24, spearheaded by Vice Governor Ronnarong Thipsiri. Power players in attendance included Worawan Waritphuttimeth, Chief of the Phuket Provincial Labour Office, and Phichit Singthongkam, Chief of the Phuket…
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3 Thais, 1 foreigner arrested for kidnapping 2 Vietnamese men
Police arrested three Thai men and one foreigner after the gang attempted to kidnap two Vietnamese men for ransom on Kho Simbi Road in Phuket at the weekend. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station were alerted to the kidnapping at 11.46pm on Saturday, February 22, by a friend of the Vietnamese victims. The two Vietnamese nationals, 40 year old Van…
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Foreign man walks naked in Phuket, ignoring bystanders’ shock
A foreign man was seen walking naked outside a convenience store in Phuket last night shocking bystanders and drawing hilarious comments from Thai netizens. The Phuket Times shared pictures of the naked foreigner yesterday, February 24, with a caption that read, “This foreign man walked naked in Soi Ta-iad, Phuket. He does not care about anyone and does not feel embarrassed.”…
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Phuket taxi driver threatened, suspects identified by police
Cherng Talay police officers identified two men accused of threatening a metered taxi driver after he picked up two foreign passengers at Boat Avenue, Phuket, earlier this month. The legal status of the aggressors remains undetermined. Phudit Sa-atphan, a legally registered metered taxi driver, publicly urged the police to intensify their efforts following his formal complaint on February 8. The incident…
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American woman caught smuggling crystal meth at Phuket airport
An American woman was arrested at Phuket International Airport for attempting to smuggle four kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine. Her travel route included a stop in Singapore, with her final destination being South Korea. The arrest occurred yesterday, February 23 at 8.30pm, following a tip-off received by Police Lieutenant Colonel Korapoompoj Phongsaiphiboon, deputy inspector of Sakoo Police Station in Phuket, from…
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Phuket aims for 500 billion baht in tourism revenue this year
Phuket is set to bring in a tourism revenue of 500 billion baht this year, as outlined by the Provincial Governor, Sophon Suwannarat. Last year’s tourism revenue was deemed successful, with the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) reporting that over 13.14 million tourists visited, generating at least 497 billion baht. Sophon highlighted this year’s goal of 500 billion baht, noting…
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Phuket officials tackle drug issues in Rawai sea gypsy community
Officials from Phuket Mueang District Office are intensifying their efforts to address drug-related concerns within the sea gypsy community in Rawai. The goal is to implement initiatives that will bring about long-term positive effects. Mueang Phuket District Chief Pairoj Srilamul led a community forum at the village on February 20, accompanied by Rawai Deputy Mayor Thiraphong Thaodaeng, government officials, local…
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British man drops cocaine at Phuket Airport and causes a scene
A British man caused a scene at Phuket International Airport on February 18 after allegedly dropping a bag of cocaine while rolling on the floor in a frantic outburst. The suspect, who had arrived from Shanghai on Juneyao Air flight HO 1323, reportedly began shouting and rolling on the ground, drawing the attention of immigration officers. Footage shows him lying…
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Freedom Beach reclassified for business and ecotourism operations
Businesses and small vendors have been granted permission to operate on over 41 rai of Freedom Beach, following its reclassification by the Royal Forest Department as Recreational Forest. Deputy Director-General Bannarak Sermthong confirmed that the reclassification was publicly announced on January 31 and took effect upon publication in the Royal Gazette on February 19. Bannarak explained that the new designation…
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Phuket police arrest 13 Chinese tourists in illegal gambling raid
Phuket Provincial Police arrested 13 Chinese tourists involved in an illegal gambling operation in Phuket Town, supported by locals. The raid, led by Police Colonel Ekkalak Boonsangcharoen, occurred at the Phuket Poker Sports Club in Soi Poonphol at 11pm on February 20. The gambling venue, managed by a Thai national, was secretly catering to Chinese gamblers. During the operation, police…
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Australian couple arrested for snatching belongings from Phuket tourists
Police today arrested an Australian couple for snatching the belongings of two foreign tourists in the Rawai area of Phuket on Wednesday, February 19. The first victim filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station at around 9.30pm, today, February 21, stating that two thieves on a motorcycle snatched her bag while she was outside a convenience store on Soi Samakkhi…
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Thai woman fined for letting foreigner drive tuk tuk in Phuket
A Thai woman faces a fine for allowing a foreign tourist to drive her tuk tuk in Phuket yesterday, February 20. The Facebook news page Phuket Times yesterday shared pictures of a foreign man driving a light blue tuk tuk along a Phuket road, accompanied by a caption criticising the foreigner for allegedly working illegally in Thailand. The caption read……
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Drug suspect arrested in Rawai sea gypsy village in Phuket
A 30 year old man was arrested during an anti-drug raid at the sea gypsy village in Rawai, Phuket, where officers seized a substantial quantity of illicit drugs. The operation was conducted by the Special Operations Unit of the Phuket office of the Department of Local Administration (DOLA), led by Akkara Suwatthikul. The raid followed intelligence reports suggesting that drugs…
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Firefighters battle wildfire at Laem Krathing, Phuket
Firefighters in Phuket are continuing efforts to control a wildfire that erupted at Laem Krathing in Rawai late last night, February 20, impacting approximately five rai of land. The blaze, which began at 8.20pm, rapidly spread over 500 metres of hillside terrain, challenging firefighting teams due to the difficult location. Emergency responders faced hurdles as fire trucks and large machinery…
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Phuket hosts Deep South youth for cultural exchange
Phuket is gearing up to host disadvantaged youth from Thailand’s Deep South as part of the San Jai Thai Su Jai Tai project, an initiative designed to bridge cultural gaps and provide life-changing experiences for young people from conflict-affected regions. Phuket Provincial Chief Administrative Officer, Thiraphong Chuaychu, announced the initiative at a meeting held at Phuket Provincial Hall yesterday, February…
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Blow and behold: British man’s nose for trouble at Phuket Airport
Drama unfolded at Phuket International Airport as a British man swapped sun, sea, and sand for cuffs at customs for cocaine possession. The 42 year old British man found himself in hot water after allegedly kicking off and creating a scene at Phuket Airport. Following his tumultuous antics, airport officers uncovered 4.11 grammes of cocaine on him, sealed in a…
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Phuket urges waste separation as incinerator shuts down
Phuket’s waste crisis is escalating as the island’s only public incinerator shuts down for a month-long renovation, forcing local government operatives to dump hundreds of tonnes of excess waste into overflowing landfills. Deputy Mayor Suphot La-ongphet visited the Phuket Solid Waste Disposal Centre at Saphan Hin on Monday, February 17 to discuss emergency waste management measures with municipal engineers and…
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Over 100 foreigners arrested in Phuket police blitz
Phuket police sent a strong message to law-breaking foreigners after arresting over 100 people and issuing 1,625 traffic citations in a sweeping week-long crackdown. The operation, running from February 10 to 16, targeted illegal businesses, visa violations, drug offences, and reckless driving, according to Phuket Provincial Police Commander Police Major General Sinlert Sukhum. The coordinated effort, involving Phuket Immigration and…
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Phuket braces for drought: Officials scramble to secure water
As Phuket enters the dry season, officials are stepping up efforts to prevent a potential drought, holding an emergency meeting to strategise water management and mitigation measures. The Phuket Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM Phuket) convened its first working group meeting of the year yesterday, February 17, led by Chief Sopon Thongsai. The session brought together multiple agencies…
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Burmese man arrested after attempted rape in Phuket
A Myanmar national has been arrested for the attempted rape of a 57 year old woman in Wichit after her son’s sudden arrival forced the attacker to flee. The horrifying incident unfolded at around 1pm on Saturday, February 15, when the victim, identified as Kai, was asleep in her home. The suspect, Soe Aung, allegedly broke in, restrained her, and…
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Boatload of change: Phuket makes waves with water transport plan
Phuket is set to make a splash with an innovative plan to tackle its notorious traffic woes—by taking to the water. In a bid to ease the island’s increasing congestion, local officials gathered at Phuket Provincial Hall’s Smart Operations Center yesterday, February 17, to explore the integration of water transport systems, with a focus on a pioneering ‘Boat Taxi’ project.…
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Tragic Phuket crash: Man killed as car overturns
A 30 year old man lost his life in a horrific late-night crash after his car flipped and smashed into a roadside barrier in Wichit, Phuket, early yesterday morning. Wichit Police were alerted to the accident at around 2.30am, yesterday, February 17, near the Bangchak petrol station on Mueang Chaofa Road, a key route linking Prince of Songkla University’s Phuket campus…
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American man arrested in Phuket for violating foreign business act
Police arrested an American man wanted on multiple warrants at a restaurant in Phuket Old Town on Valentine’s Day, February 14. Officers from the Phuket Immigration Bureau and Mueang Phuket Police Station sought a court-issued arrest warrant for the 67 year old American man, Ronald Ray, mainly for violating Section 8 of the Foreign Business Act: operating a business in…
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Filipina woman arrested in Phuket over Bangkok fraud charges
A 45 year old Filipina woman was arrested in Phuket on Friday after immigration officers discovered an outstanding fraud warrant issued by the Criminal Court in Bangkok in 2020. The suspect, identified as Brenda (surname withheld), was taken into custody while attempting to extend her visa at the Phuket Immigration Office in Phuket Town. A background check through the Immigration…
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Phuket police impound 20 bikes over reckless tourist driving
Phuket’s Patong police impounded 20 motorbikes and addressed the issue of foreign tourists driving recklessly during a late-night operation intended to enhance road safety. Yesterday, February 15, at 12.30am, Patong Police officers carried out an inspection near Kasikorn Bank on Prachanukroh Road, located at the southern end of Patong. The operation focused on identifying and addressing reckless driving and other…
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Russian, Thai nationals arrested in Phuket over wire fraud charges
A Russian national and three Thai citizens have been detained in Phuket in separate operations. The Russian, Egor Nikolaevich Glebov, is wanted by US police for wire fraud charges. Phuket Immigration officers and the Cyber Crime Investigation Bureau (CCIB) carried out the raids. Glebov, a 38 year old Russian national, was apprehended at a residence in Supalai Palm Springs, Srisoonthorn.…
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Azerbaijan eyes Phuket: Talks on direct flights and sister city plans
Phuket is on the radar for deeper ties with Azerbaijan. Governor Sophon Suwannarat rolled out the red carpet on Thursday, February 13, for Ambassador Elchin Rakub Ogul Bashirov of Azerbaijan at the Phuket Provincial Hall, where the two discussed ramping up diplomatic and tourism cooperation. With Phuket’s tourism boom in full swing: 13.1 million visitors raking in over 497 billion…
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Over 100 couples tie the knot in Phuket on Valentine’s Day
Romance filled the air in Phuket Town today as more than 100 couples gathered at the Mueang District Office to register their marriages in a joyful Valentine’s Day celebration. The event, which embraced love in all forms, saw couples from all backgrounds, including LGBTQIA+ partners, formalising their unions in a special ceremony. The festivities were led by Phuket District Chief…
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Drunken tourist brawl erupts in Phuket, sparks online outrage (video)
A wild street brawl involving foreign tourists outside Cafe del Mar in Kamala has set social media ablaze, reigniting debates over the type of visitors Phuket is attracting. The 1-minute, 37-second clip, shared by the โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต Facebook page today, February 14, captures the chaotic fight, with drunk tourists trading punches as stunned onlookers watched. The altercation began outside the…
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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