Surat Thani
- Crime News
Police seize 250kg of crystal meth worth 100 million baht
Police in Surat Thani arrested four individuals and seized 250 kilogrammes of crystal methamphetamine hidden in a container truck during a routine search in Tha Chang district. The drugs, intended for export, were concealed in fertiliser sacks beneath baskets of fruit and had an estimated street value of 100 million baht (US$3 million). Highway officers searched 4pm on September 6…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani police initiate successful Ban Klang rehabilitation
The police in Surat Thani launched a sustainable community rehabilitation project to address drug problems comprehensively, in line with national strategy. Following successful implementation in the Islamic community of Santisuk, the project has now been introduced in another Islamic community, Ban Klang. Yesterday, August 25, a meeting was held at the Raotul Jannah Mosque in Ban Klang, Bang Kung subdistrict,…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani police seize 404,000 meth pills after car chase
Police in Surat Thani arrested two men and seized 404,000 methamphetamine (meth) pills following a dramatic car chase. The suspects, 31 year old Suriyen, and 25 year old Sitthipong, were apprehended after attempting to flee from the police. Surat Thani Governor Jetsada Jitrat, who also serves as the Director of the Provincial Internal Security Operations Command (ISOC), directed the operation.…
- Thailand News
Khao Sok National Park to sue travel agency after fatal cave death
Khao Sok National Park in the southern province of Surat Thani plans to sue a travel agency after two Thai tour guides violated safety rules and took 22 foreign tourists to Nam Talu Cave during its closure, resulting in the death of one guide in the flash flood on Tuesday, August 6. National park rangers and rescuers saved the other…
- Thailand News
Thai woman killed, girl injured in rampage in Surat Thani
Phrasaeng Police Station officers have surrounded a palm plantation in the southern province of Surat Thani after a Thai man went on a rampage, killing one woman and injuring a young girl. Police were notified about the rampage at approximately 2pm today, July 25, and rushed to the scene along with a rescue team. Officers reported to KhaoSod that the…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani marks king’s birthday with beach, underwater clean-up
Government officials in Surat Thani, in collaboration with the Koh Tao Subdistrict Municipality, organised a beach and underwater clean-up event to honour the birthday of King Maha Vajiralongkorn Phra Vajiraklaochaoyuhua on July 28. Yesterday, July 18, at the Chulalongkorn Stone Court in Koh Tao, Pha Ngan district, Surat Thani province, several officials and local leaders, including the Deputy Director of the…
- Thailand News
Controversial sea bridge to Koh Samui stirs debate
The hotly-debated sea bridge connecting the Thai mainland to the paradise island of Koh Samui is one step closer to reality. The second phase of public hearings for this ambitious project kicked off in Surat Thani province yesterday, July 15, setting the stage for a project that promises to revolutionise travel to one of Thailand’s most beloved holiday spots. Set…
- Thailand News
Thai man arrested for raping Ukrainian woman in Koh Samui
A Thai man denied raping a Ukrainian woman at Thongson Beach on Koh Samui, an island in the southern province of Surat Thani, claiming that the victim consented. The 32 year old Ukrainian victim filed a rape complaint at Bor Phud Police Station on July 13 after the incident took place on Thongson Beach in the Bor Phud sub-district at…
- Road deaths
Minibus crash in Surat Thani injures ten foreign tourists
A minibus carrying foreign tourists overturned yesterday, injuring ten passengers. The accident occurred around 6.30am, yesterday, July 7, on Phunphin-Mueang Road in the Tha Lon sub-district, Phunphin district, Surat Thani province. Police and rescue workers promptly arrived at the scene where they found the minibus overturned on the roadside. The ten foreign tourists, who sustained minor injuries, were swiftly transported…
- Thailand News
Tourists rescued after speedboat sinks off Surat Thani coast
A speedboat carrying tourists on a fishing trip was hit by large waves, causing it to take on water and eventually sink. Five people were left stranded in the sea before being rescued by local fishing boats and the marine police. At 12.20am today, the marine police received a distress call from relatives of the speedboat’s driver, alerting them that…
- Crime News
Teen becomes officer to hunt grandfather’s killer of 16 years
A 15 year old boy, determined to become a police officer after his grandfather was murdered, spent the next 16 years hunting down the killer until he finally succeeded. This real-life story surpasses any drama. On October 26, 2008, 81 year old farmer Phrom Krodkaew was brutally murdered in Phanom, Surat Thani. That day, Phrom and his wife went to…
- Thailand News
Father fatally shot and son injured in argument at rubber plantation
A tragic altercation unfolded in a rubber plantation when a heated argument between a father and son escalated, resulting in the father being fatally shot and the son severely injured. The incident occurred at 10am yesterday in Phunphin District, Surat Thani Province. Deputy Inspector of Phunphin Police Station, Police Lieutenant Pariwat Phetcharat received the report and promptly arrived at the…
- Thailand News
Shocking crime: Man electrocutes father to death with fan wire
The Thai authorities apprehended a man suspected of electrocuting his father using a fan’s electrical wire, leading to the 88 year old’s death at their home. The suspect, who faces potential capital punishment, denies the charges amid financial motives and previous family conflicts. The incident occurred around 11pm yesterday. The authorities questioned close relatives, including the deceased’s wife, to uncover…
- Thailand News
Snakes alive: Python and king cobra showdown stuns locals
A dramatic encounter between a 3-metre king cobra and a large python ended in a surprising twist, with the king cobra regurgitating its half-swallowed prey. The incident took place in Chai Buri, Surat Thani, and was reported by residents to the Chai Buri Rescue Centre. Locals of Khlong Noi, Chai Buri, last night, May 22, alerted the rescue team about…
- Thailand News
Fake time, real warning: Thai couple’s scam alert (video)
A Thai couple took to social media to issue a warning, alleging that a foreign man attempted to scam them by selling a fake luxury watch. The couple claim that the man allegedly bought the watch for 59,000 baht but offered it to them for just 6,000 baht. A Thai man, Supakorn Piriyesyangkoon, shared a video and pictures of the…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani ex-engineer wins 30 million baht lottery
A former municipal engineering director from Surat Thani province hit the jackpot, winning a staggering 30 million baht in the national lottery. The 61 year old, who has been living and working in Nonthaburi province since 1978, walked into a local police station today, April 2, with his family to officially record their life-changing win. Polkrit, the lucky winner, alongside…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani police arrest duo for village headman’s murder
Two suspects were apprehended in connection with the fatal shooting of a village headman who was killed outside his home in Surat Thani province. The assailants, apprehended along with firearms and clothing worn during the incident, are thought to have had a personal dispute with the victim. In the early hours of February 13, 36 year old Mae Mok village…
- Thailand News
Monks’ brawl during ceremony sparks debate in Surat Thani (video)
A fight broke out between two monks in Surat Thani during a religious ceremony at a family’s home, shocking the household and sparking widespread online debate. The incident, captured on video and shared on Facebook by a user named ซัน บุญเลี้ยง, shows the monks exchanging blows in an unexpected turn of events during what was supposed to be a peaceful…
- Thailand News
Former MP professes innocence in Thai extortion case
Yoswarit Chuklom, affectionately known as Jeng Dokjik, met with the authorities from the Anti-Corruption Division (ACD) of the police force today, asserting his innocence in a high-profile extortion case. He was accompanied by Pimnatta Jiraputthiphak, a former parliamentary candidate from the Ruam Thai Sang Chart Party, and their lawyer, Traisak Thongswai. Jeng arrived with a cheerful demeanour, showing no signs…
- Thailand News
Web-slinging scoop: Spider-Man serves ice cream on Thailand boat tour (video)
A surprising sight left tourists bemused during a boat trip in Thailand, as they encountered a person dressed as Spider-Man selling ice cream. This unusual event quickly became a viral sensation online, with the hashtag #onlyinThailand drawing laughter and bewilderment from social media users. Traveller experiences in the Land of Smiles are often filled with unexpected moments but a superhero…
- Thailand News
Village leader fatally shot in Surat Thani, community mourns
Tragedy struck a local community in Surat Thani province when a 35 year old village leader was fatally shot in an appalling act of violence. The incident, which occurred shortly after 9pm yesterday, February 13, has left the village in shock and mourning. According to Police Lieutenant Colonel Withoon Sukpradit, the investigative officer from Kanjanadit Police Station, the emergency call came…
- Thailand News
Surat Thani police launch safety sweep for holidays
Surat Thani Provincial Police mobilised a security sweep to ensure public and tourist safety during the Valentine’s Day and Makha Bucha Day holidays in 2024. The operation, fronted by high-ranking officers, aims to prevent sexual harassment, inappropriate behaviour, and crime in vulnerable areas. In a proactive measure to ensure public safety, Surat Thani Provincial Police launched a comprehensive crime sweep…
- Thailand News
Thai food vendor sparks debate after giving free food to foreign backpacker (video)
A Thai food vendor sparked a debate on social media after giving free food to a foreign backpacker in the southern province of Surat Thani. Many netizens hailed the vendor’s gesture while others said the foreign woman just took advantage of Thais’ kindness. The food vendor shared a video of the foreign backpacker eating food at her restaurant on her…
- South Thailand News
Teenager brandishes firearm in public, fears mother poisoning him for insurance
A 19 year old man was taken into custody by Surat Thani City police after he was spotted brandishing a firearm at a busy road intersection. The youth claimed he was scared of his mother, who he believed was trying to poison him to claim life insurance money. The incident occurred at 2.15am today, January 18 at the intersection of…
- Business News
Surat Thani’s hidden gems captivate American tourists
Tourism operators within the southern province of Surat Thani are pivoting their attention to the US market, showcasing the distinctive local attractions. Atirat Danpattaraworawat, who heads the Cheow Lan Lake Tourism Promotion Association, disclosed on Sunday that their recent networking expedition to the United States, spearheaded by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT), garnered considerable interest from the US market.…
- Thailand News
Country singer Bew Kalayanee’s brother found dead in Tapee River
The lifeless body of Chitkorn Jiamsakul, a 45 year old car driver and elder brother to the renowned country singer Kalayanee Jiamsakul, known as Bew Kalayanee, was found near a dock. The discovery took place about 2 kilometres from the initial incident site where Chitkorn was last observed jumping from Sri Surat Bridge and vanishing into the Tapee River on…
- Thailand News
Southern Thailand: Flood mitigation study completed in Surat Thani’s Klong Roy Sai area
The Royal Irrigation Department completed a flood mitigation study in the Klong Roy Sai area of Surat Thani city, which promises to bring benefits to residents. The project launch was held at the Wang Tai Hotel conference room in Surat Thani. Notable attendees included Nuntawat Charoenwan, Deputy Governor of Surat Thani Province, Somsawat Chaisinsorn, Director of Surat Thani Irrigation Project, and…
- Thailand News
Thai village chief killed in wild elephant attack at Surat Thani plantation
A wild elephant, part of a herd that had wandered into an oil palm plantation, fatally attacked a village chief in Tha Chana district, Surat Thani province, Thailand. The village chief, Samnao Kraiket, suffered severe injuries including a crushed rib cage, broken hip, and head injuries during an attempt to drive the elephants back into the forest. Despite the efforts…
- Thailand News
Plea for flight: Provincial governor urges reconsideration after Thai Smile route closure
Thai Smile’s decision to discontinue flights from Suvarnabhumi International Airport to Surat Thani Airport, beginning October 1, has led provincial governor, Witchawut Jinto, to appeal for a reversal. Jinto submitted a formal letter to Thai Smile, an affiliate of Thai Airways, requesting the continuation of the Suvarnabhumi-Surat Thani route. The governor expressed public discontent over Thai Smile’s plans, which are…
- Tourism News
Surat Thani tourism rebounds to pre-pandemic levels, Koh Samui flights surge
Thailand’s southern province of Surat Thani is rejoicing at the return of tourism levels reminiscent of the pre-pandemic era, as confirmed by the provincial governor, Wichawut Jinto. The popular holiday island of Koh Samui, arguably the tourism highlight of Surat Thani, has experienced an upsurge in both flight frequencies and tourist footfalls during the month of July, aligning with the…
