Phuket News
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Protected slow loris seized from Phuket tourist photo tout
A man was arrested in Phuket on April 27 for allegedly carrying a slow loris, a protected wild animal, and offering tourists paid photo opportunities in Karon. Officers from the Khao Phra Thaeo Non-Hunting Area, Karon Police Station, local officials, and Phuket MP Chalermpong Sangdee inspected the area after receiving complaints that protected wildlife was being used for tourist photos.…
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Police face backlash for letting 2 foreigners walk naked on Phuket road
Two foreign tourists were seen walking naked along a road in the Kata-Laemsai area of Phuket yesterday, April 28, prompting criticism of local police and officials over their response to the incident. Images of the naked tourists in Phuket were shared by the Phuket Times Facebook page, showing the pair without clothing while standing roadside with a group of friends.…
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Unlicensed BMW driver kills Phuket transwoman while retrieving dropped phone
A BMW driver crashed into and killed a Thai transwoman on April 25 while the victim was retrieving a dropped mobile phone on a road in Phuket. The incident occurred at around 2.30am on Pathak Road outside an entertainment venue in Chalong subdistrict, according to Khao Phuket. The victim, Auttachai Deeprom, sustained serious injuries and later died in hospital. CCTV…
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Foreign tourists take turn showing their private parts on Phuket tuk tuk
A group of foreign tourists were criticised after exposing themselves to motorists while travelling in a tuk tuk in Patong, Phuket. Images posted by the Phuket Times Facebook page yesterday, April 27, showed several foreigners standing in the vehicle, turning towards traffic behind them and pulling down their trousers. The page stated in the caption… “Bottoms show in Patong. Foreign…
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Foreign woman allegedly steals trainers left outside Phuket home
A Thai resident in Phuket exposed a foreign woman, who allegedly stole trainers from outside the home by sharing footage of the incident online. The video was posted on the Phuket Times Facebook page and circulated today, April 27. According to the timestamp, the incident occurred at around 10.27am on April 26 in Khok Tanote, Karon subdistrict. The footage was…
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Kyrgyz suspects wanted by Interpol arrested at Phuket hotel
Two Kyrgyz suspects wanted under Interpol Red Notices over a kidnapping and murder case in their home country were arrested yesterday, April 25, at a hotel in Phuket after fleeing to Thailand. The 26 year old men, Aiat and Adilet, were wanted under Interpol Red Notices on charges of kidnapping, illegal detention, assault causing death, and murder. Both men were…
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Foreign men caught on CCTV footage stealing guitar in Phuket
A Thai man is seeking help online after two foreign men stole his guitar from a motorcycle in Karon, Phuket, at around 2.30am yesterday, April 23. The 19 year old victim, Kasidit, shared details with the Phuket Times Facebook page and Khao Phuket in the hopes of identifying the two men and recovering his guitar. The theft was captured on…
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TikTok video of 150 baht coconut in Phuket divides Thai internet
A foreign TikToker recently posted about the price of a coconut on Patong Beach in Phuket yesterday, April 22, pointing out the upcharge in tourist areas, which were met with mixed reactions as debates raged on in the comments. The video, which focused on the price of coconuts in Phuket, left many viewers, Thai and foreign, divided. Some are defending…
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Parasailing accident in Phuket caused by boat propeller, investigators say
A Phuket parasailing accident off Kamala Beach in Phuket, on Monday, April 20, was revealed to have been caused by a boat propeller cutting a rope, leading a tourist and an assistant to fall into the sea. The incident gained attention after a foreign witness shared video footage on TikTok, showing the rope connecting the parachute to the speedboat snapping…
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Frenchman files counter complaint after his arrest for assaulting Phuket man during Songkran
A Frenchman filed a counter-complaint after he was arrested yesterday, April 21, for assaulting a Thai man during Songkran celebrations in Phuket on April 12. He claimed the Thai man had started the altercation. The incident came to light after the wife of 38 year old Weerasak Madlee contacted the Facebook page โหดจัง จังหวัดภูเก็ต, alleging that police had not acted on…
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Thai parasailing staff and tourist fall into Phuket sea after rope snaps
A tourist and parasailing assistant fell into the sea in Phuket on Monday, April 20, after a rope snapped mid-flight. No injuries were reported. The incident was captured on video by a foreign witness and shared on TikTok account, @burcuus, with the caption “That was close.” The footage shows two men, believed to be a tourist and a parasailing assistant, being…
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Russian suspect arrested in Phuket over scam cash withdrawals
Police in Phuket arrested a Russian national yesterday, April 20, in connection with a call centre scam after he was found withdrawing funds linked to fraudulent operations. The suspect, identified as 41 year old Anton Kurchenko, was monitored by Phuket Provincial Police after making multiple ATM withdrawals outside a supermarket in Soi Ta-iad, Chalong subdistrict. According to a report from the…
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Thai YouTuber told to move in Phuket Beach confrontation
A dispute at Mai Khao Beach in Phuket, now shared prominently across Thai social media, drew mixed reactions after a foreign couple was seen asking a Thai-Italian YouTuber to move while filming on the public beach. Nawinda “Mint” Bertotti, a Thai travel blogger and actress, shared the incident during her trip to Phuket in a vlog posted on her YouTube…
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2 Frenchmen arrested for assault on Thai motorcyclist in Phuket Songkran celebrations
A Thai man suffered serious injuries after he was attacked by Frenchmen in Phuket on April 13 after refusing to join a Songkran water fight. The victim’s girlfriend, 27 year old Maytinee Sila, went to Patong Police Station on the day of the incident to report the assault on her 29 year old boyfriend, Kunanya Phokham. The incident took place at…
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Phuket tourists arrested after soaking police at Songkran command post
Patong police have arrested a group of foreign tourists after video footage showed them directing high-pressure water guns at officers on duty during the Songkran festival in Patong, Phuket, on April 13. The incident occurred at a police command tent set up in Patong Municipality for the Patong Songkran Beach Festival 2026. Footage of the incident, which circulated on social…
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Phuket locals call for tougher action on foreigners with disruptive behaviour during Songkran
A group of foreigners in Phuket is facing public criticism after reports of aggressive behaviour during Songkran Festival, including blocking roads, harassing motorists and inappropriate conduct towards women. Officers from Patong Police Station arrested the group on April 14 after a viral video showed them forcing open a van door and throwing water at the driver and inside the vehicle.…
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Frenchman wanted for drugs and money laundering arrested in Phuket
A Frenchman wanted for more than 30 offences in his home country was arrested in Phuket yesterday, April 9, after fleeing to Thailand to avoid prosecution. Royal Thai Police instructed Phuket Provincial Immigration Office to locate the Frenchman, later identified as 50 year old Ani. French police were seeking his arrest over more than 30 offences linked to drug trafficking…
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French tourist injured in gold necklace snatching in Phuket
A French tourist sustained a neck injury during a gold necklace snatching on Bangla Road in Phuket yesterday, April 9, but managed to recover the jewellery from the thief. Phuket Times Facebook page reported that the incident took place at about 4am while the tourist was walking on Bangla Road with two friends. A Thai friend recorded a video showing…
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Interpol-wanted Swedish mafia arrested in Phuket condominium
A Swedish national wanted under an Interpol Red Notice was arrested in Phuket yesterday, April 9, for involvement in murder, illegal weapons offences, and drug trafficking in Sweden. Phuket Provincial Police carried out the operation as part of a wider crackdown on foreign nationals involved in crime, including suspects who fled their home countries or used Thailand as a base for…
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Foreign driver hits motorcycle, injures three girls in Phuket
A crash in Phuket left three Thai girls aged 14 injured after a foreign driver crossed into the opposite lane and hit a motorcycle in Sakhu subdistrict, Thalang district, at 3.15pm on April 8. CCTV footage later shared by the Phuket Times page yesterday, April 9, showed a sedan driven by a foreign national crossing into the opposite lane and hitting…
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Tourists warned after moon jellyfish found floating off Phuket
About 20 to 30 moon jellyfish were found floating near the surface and washed ashore at Ao Siam on Koh Racha Yai in Phuket yesterday, April 7, according to the Upper Andaman Coastal and Marine Resources Research Centre. An alert was issued after staff at the Racha Islands protected area management centre in Rawai, Mueang district, Phuket, reported the sighting.…
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Thai man arrested for shooting colleague at Phuket warehouse
A gunman who shot his colleague at a warehouse in Ratsada, Phuket, was arrested at a hotel yesterday evening, April 7, following a police search. The suspect, 50 year old Prakit Pannarai, opened fire on his colleague, 40 year old Wirat Nawadate, at a retail store warehouse on April 6. Prakit fired three shots, striking Wirat in the body and…
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Thai man escapes after shooting colleague at Phuket warehouse
Police are searching for a gunman who escaped after shooting his colleague at a warehouse in Phuket yesterday, April 6, leaving the victim in critical condition. Officers from Mueang Phuket Police Station were alerted to the shooting by medical staff at Mission Hospital Phuket. The victim, identified as 40 year old Wirut, suffered gunshot wounds to his body and leg…
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Phuket van driver confesses to raping Ukrainian woman
Phuket police officers arrested a Thai van driver over the rape of a 20 year old Ukrainian woman yesterday, April 6. The Ukrainian woman filed a complaint with Patong Police Station at about 5.30am, saying a Thai man forced her into a van and raped her in Phuket town. Police later tracked down the suspect, identified only as 43 year old…
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Phuket tuk tuk driver accuses Russian man of refusing to pay for service
A Phuket tuk tuk driver accused a foreign passenger of refusing to pay and then claiming the driver overcharged him at 3,000 baht. The driver, who operates in Patong in Kathu district, shared a video on social media showing him confronting the passenger in a hotel lobby. He said he may start collecting fares in advance to prevent passengers from…
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3 foreigners caught using toy banknotes at Phuket entertainment venue
Police arrested three foreigners on April 1 after they attempted to settle a bill at an entertainment venue on Bangla Road in Phuket with toy banknotes. A staff member at the venue contacted police after detecting suspicious banknotes used by the group of foreign men, whose nationalities were not disclosed. The suspects reportedly handed over three US$100 notes to pay…
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Phuket to raise boat fares to Koh Phi Phi and tour package prices from April 5
Phuket ferry and speedboat fares for routes to Koh Phi Phi, along with boat tour prices, are set to increase from April 5 after operators received approval to raise charges in response to higher fuel costs. Phuket Provincial Governor Nirat Pongsitthaworn met officials from the Phuket Provincial Marine Department and local operators at about 1.30pm yesterday, April 2, to discuss…
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Wanted Chinese fraud suspect found hiding in Phuket
Immigration police in Phuket detained a Chinese fraud suspect yesterday, April 1, after the Chinese Embassy in Thailand asked Thai police to help locate, arrest and deport a man wanted in China who was believed to be hiding in the province. Police said the suspect, identified as 32 year old Wang, was believed to have fled to Phuket. Investigators later…
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Phuket airport immigration delay blamed on system fault, paid fast lane denied
Immigration police have denied claims that Phuket International Airport opened a paid “special lane” for passengers, saying recent queues were caused by a temporary system slowdown during an unusually busy flight period. On Saturday, March 29, Police Colonel Phongthon Phongrattanant, deputy commander and spokesperson for Immigration Division 2, said the agency reviewed reports circulating online about operations at the airport’s…
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Long queues at Phuket Airport raise ‘special paid lane’ questions
Claims of a “special paid lane” at outbound immigration in Phuket have circulated online after photos showed long queues at Phuket International Airport over the weekend, according to reports yesterday, March 28. Images shared from the Phuket Info Centre page showed large numbers of tourists queuing at the Immigration Bureau checkpoint on the international departures side. The images prompted widespread…
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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