Koh Samui News
Koh Samui news, tourism, business, and nightlife—stay updated with breaking stories, local events, and expat insights from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao. Get the latest from The Thaiger, your trusted island news source.
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Anutin orders Frenchman deported after Koh Samui traffic conviction
Thailand deportation proceedings have been ordered against a French national after Prime Minister and Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul cited his alleged conduct as a threat to public order, morality and public wellbeing. The decision follows a Koh Samui Provincial Court ruling against French national Kevin Dimino for offences under the Land Traffic Act and marks the second deportation ordered by Anutin.…
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Maid’s 100-million-baht windfall exposes illegal firms
Police in Surat Thani have concluded their investigation into two nominee companies linked to a French businesswoman who died by suicide on Koh Samui in 2024, recommending prosecution over illegal landholding through Thai nominees. The case, which drew national attention after the woman left a fortune worth nearly 100 million baht to her housekeeper, has now moved to the Koh…
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Koh Samui van driver arrested for stealing from Chinese family
A Thai van driver on Koh Samui confessed to stealing from a Chinese tourist after overwhelming evidence of foreign currency worth around 15,000 baht was found hidden in his vehicle. Bo Phut Police Station arrested the 49 year old van driver, Sawawut, on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, yesterday, August 23, for stealing foreign currency from the 69 year old Chinese…
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Israeli couple says Thai laywer to blame after nominee network arrest
An Israeli property developer and his wife were arrested following an investigation into 20 Israeli nationals who allegedly used Thai nominees to conceal their ownership of land, property and restricted businesses on Koh Samui. The Samui Provincial Court reportedly issued 20 arrest warrants for Israeli nationals after investigators found that Thai people were named as shareholders to conceal foreign ownership…
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Probe ordered after Koh Samui zoo owners reports death threat by Israeli
The Ministry of Interior intervened in a dispute between Israeli tourists and owners of a zoo on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province after the owners allegedly received death threats for refusing to serve Israeli nationals. Sai, a Thai woman who owns Samui Exotic Park in Mae Nam with her French husband, shared details of the dispute on social media.…
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French family found safe after going missing during jet ski trip off Koh Samui
A French father and his two young sons, who were reported missing while on a jet ski trip, were rescued off the coast of Koh Samui today, August 14, having spent a night adrift at sea. The Koh Samui District Office was alerted at around 6pm yesterday, August 13, by a jet ski operator on Chawang Beach that a foreign…
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Search continues for French family missing on Koh Samui
A French father and his two young children have gone missing after taking a rented jet ski from Chawang Beach on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province yesterday, August 13. Local news Facebook page Nai Sanam (นายสนาม) reported yesterday that the three French nationals, including two children aged between five and seven, disappeared during a jet ski trip. The family…
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Koh Samui crowned Asia-Pacific’s best island, airport, resorts also rank
Koh Samui has been named the best island in the Asia-Pacific region at the Travel + Leisure Luxury Awards 2026, with the island’s airport and five of its resorts also collecting top-10 finishes across separate categories at the same event. The recognition was announced by the Deputy Government Spokesperson, Ploythalay Laksamisaengchan, who said the government welcomed the result as a…
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Thai taxi driver, new father, shot dead in Koh Samui ‘mafia’ attack
A taxi driver was shot dead during an attack by a “taxi mafia group” on Koh Samui in Surat Thani on Sunday, May 24, with one suspect arrested and several others still being sought by police. The victim was his family’s primary source of income, having welcomed a child just last month. The victim, identified as 31 year old former…
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4 travel agencies on Koh Samui found operating through Thai nominees
Southern Tourism Business and Tour Guide Registration Office revoked the licences of four illegal travel agencies on Koh Samui for operating through Thai nominees. The revocation followed an expanded crackdown on nominee-run businesses across Thailand. Koh Samui Tourist Police and the Surat Thani Tourism and Sports Office inspected 12 suspicious travel agencies on the island and found four operating illegally. Under…
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Singaporean woman arrested at Samui airport over nominee businesses
A Singaporean woman was arrested at Koh Samui International Airport in Surat Thani on May 4 for allegedly operating nominee businesses on the island. Officers from the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) and Surat Thani Immigration tracked down the suspect, identified only as Janis, before her scheduled flight. She was taken into custody at the airport and transferred to a…
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Israeli ‘The Avengers’ crime gang figure arrested on Koh Samui
A leading member of an Israeli criminal organisation called “The Avengers” was arrested on Koh Samui on Wednesday, April 29, under the cooperation with Interpol and Israeli officials. Immigration Bureau Division 6 commander Chutharet Yingyongdamrongsakul confirmed today, April 30, that officers detained 28 year old Matan Aviv following coordination with Interpol and the Israeli Embassy in Thailand. According to Israeli…
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Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan ferry fares increase after fuel price jump
Travellers heading to Koh Samui and Koh Pha Ngan now face higher ferry fares after a sharp hike in fuel prices across Thailand prompted a ferry operator in Surat Thani province to raise ticket prices. Seatran Ferry, which operates services between Don Sak Pier in the mainland of Surat Thani and the two islands, first announced a fare adjustment on…
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British man dies after motorcycle crash on Koh Samui
A 23 year old British man died at a hospital in Bangkok after suffering severe injuries in a motorcycle crash on Koh Samui, Surat Thani, and spending nearly three weeks in critical condition. The British national, Tiger Duggan, suffered a serious head injury after another motorcycle allegedly knocked him down as he was overtaking a car on a road on Koh…
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Funds raised after British tourist critically injured in Koh Samui motorcycle crash
The family of a British man launched a fundraising campaign after he was left in critical condition following a serious motorcycle accident on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani province, Thailand. The victim, Tiger Duggan, a 23 year old British national, travelled to Thailand with a friend to celebrate his birthday. According to his family, they arrived in the country…
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Norwegian man arrested for assault and car theft on Koh Samui
Police on Koh Samui arrested a Norwegian man after the physical assault of a Thai driver, the theft of a pickup truck, and a high-speed chase across the island. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station were alerted to the incident after receiving reports of a physical assault and vehicle theft in the Mae Nam sub-district of Koh Samui. The incident…
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Danish man steals land deeds from Chinese victim on Koh Samui
Police arrested a Danish man after he stole a safe containing land and property documents worth around 100 million baht from a luxury villa owned by a Chinese national on Koh Samui before fleeing to Krabi. The Chinese victim filed a complaint with Bor Phud Police Station after discovering that a safe was stolen from the luxury villa in Soi Khao…
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Russian extortion suspect caught relaxing at Koh Samui luxury hotel
Police arrested a Russian man on the resort island of Koh Samui in Surat Thani yesterday, January 8, for extorting 1 million rubles, or nearly 400,000 baht, from a car dealership chief executive in Russia. The arrest followed a request for cooperation from the Russian Embassy in Thailand, which asked Thai authorities to help locate and detain the suspect, identified…
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French tourist dies after slipping from fifth tier of Koh Samui waterfall
A French tourist died after slipping and falling from the fifth tier of a waterfall on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province while taking selfies with his girlfriend. The woman narrowly escaped the fatal accident. Officers from Koh Samui Police Station rushed to Na Muang 2 Waterfall yesterday, January 5, after receiving a report of the fall. The victim was…
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Frenchman arrested for stealing from luxury villa on Koh Samui
Police arrested a Frenchman at a luxury villa on Koh Samui in Surat Thani province on Thursday, November 27, after he stole assets worth more than 240,000 baht from a Thai man. The Thai victim, whose name was not disclosed, filed a complaint with Bor Phut Police Station after discovering that several valuables had gone missing from his villa. Officers…
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British man attacks French tourist in Samui love spat
A 44 year old British man was arrested on Koh Samui after allegedly assaulting a French tourist and his Thai girlfriend during a hotel altercation over suspected jealousy. The incident occurred around noon yesterday, November 19, at a hotel in Bo Phut, Surat Thani Province. Officers from Bo Phut Police Station responded to reports of a violent altercation and arrived…
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Foreign fugitive arrested on Koh Samui over fake ticket scam
Thai immigration officers arrested an Israeli man on Koh Samui, wanted for an alleged online ticket scam, following a joint operation with foreign police. The 30 year old suspect, identified only as Abudyan, was detained by Surat Thani Immigration officers after authorities tracked him to a hotel in the popular Chaweng area. He had been staying there since November 10…
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Late-night earthquake rattles Koh Samui, no damage reported
A minor earthquake struck Koh Samui overnight, shaking homes and alarming residents across several areas, with reports of loud noises and repeated tremors. The quake, measuring 2.4 on the Richter scale, struck Koh Samui in Surat Thani province early today, November 13, sending tremors across the island and waking startled residents. The quake occurred at 12.47am at a shallow depth…
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Russian QR code drug runner found hiding in Koh Samui hotel
A Russian man wanted for promoting drugs via QR codes was arrested by immigration police after fleeing Phuket and hiding at a hotel on Koh Samui. The suspect, 27 year old Semen Kasparian (also reported as Semian Gaspayan) was arrested by Surat Thani Immigration Police today, November 6, after fleeing an arrest warrant issued in Phuket. The Russian national is…
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Turkish restaurant hits back at claims it threw out Israeli tourists
A restaurant on Koh Samui has spoken out to deny claims that it removed Israeli tourists, saying staff were not involved in the incident. The drama kicked off after a now-viral post circulated online accusing the venue of ejecting a group of Israeli diners in protest against Israel’s actions in Gaza. The post, shared via social media channels including Instagram…
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Samui restaurant faces backlash for booting Israeli tourists (video)
A restaurant on Koh Samui is under fire after a social media post claimed it removed a group of Israeli diners, igniting heated debate and divided reactions online. The now-viral post, attributed to the venue, claimed the decision was a stance against Israel’s actions in Gaza, using strong language to criticise the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). It said: “We must…
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‘White Lotus’ stars wow Emmys with glowing praise for Thailand (video)
Stars of The White Lotus praised Thailand at the Emmy Awards, sharing their love for its beauty and cuisine after filming the show’s third season there. Thailand took centre stage at the 77th Emmy Awards when The White Lotus Season 3 stars Walton Goggins and Parker Posey shared heartfelt praise for the country, drawing applause from the Hollywood audience. The…
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Russian man arrested on Koh Samui over Phuket cryptocurrency robbery
Police arrested a Russian man on Koh Samui, an island in Surat Thani, for his involvement in a cryptocurrency robbery that took place in Phuket on August 26. The 28 year old Russian victim, Aleksandr, filed a complaint at Chalong Police Station in Phuket, reporting that he had lost cryptocurrency worth 35,000 USDT, or about 1.2 million baht, to four…
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Koh Samui thief nailed by GPS hidden in stolen fan
A brazen thief on Koh Samui thought he could get away with snatching a fan under the cover of darkness—until a hidden GPS tracker led police straight to his door. Police in Koh Samui, Surat Thani province, arrested a man after a stolen fan equipped with a GPS device exposed his hiding place in a labour camp. The drama unfolded…
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Aussie lawyer’s massage ends in mystery after powder discovery
An Aussie lawyer’s late-night massage on the Thai island of Koh Samui ended not only in tragedy, but in mystery too, after police found him dead with a bag of white powder in his pocket. Christopher Saines, a prominent Brisbane lawyer and CEO of GLG Legal, was discovered unresponsive at the Siam Touch Massage parlour in Bo Phut at around…
