KOH SAMUI, THAILAND – Two Israeli tourists were arrested after allegedly attempting to put counterfeit US dollars into circulation on the popular holiday island.
Bank alert
The case began last Monday at Koh Samui airport when Matan Moshe, 25, and Omer Sarusi, 28, each changed US dollar notes at a Government Savings Bank (GSB) counter. Moshe exchanged five $50 notes (total $250) and received 7,280 baht; Sarusi exchanged ten $50 notes (total $500) and received 14,560 baht. The bank’s headquarters in Bangkok later determined the notes were counterfeit and alerted local police.
Police raid and seizure
Officers from Bophut police, acting on a warrant issued by the Samui court, arrested the two men at their accommodation in Bophut on Saturday. During a search, police recovered a substantial quantity of counterfeit notes, including dozens of $100 and $50 bills. The total value of the seized counterfeit currency was $5,653, about 200,000 baht.
Suspects’ account
According to police, the two men told investigators they had brought the money into Thailand from Israel and claimed they did not know the notes were fake. “We were unaware,” the suspects reportedly said, the authorities added.
Investigations and context
Police Lieutenant Phanumat Chukuea, investigations inspector at Bophut police station, confirmed the pair entered Thailand on tourist visas on October 5 at Suvarnabhumi airport. Counterfeit US dollars have periodically surfaced in Thailand, particularly in tourist areas where currency exchange is common, and authorities say they pursue such cases vigorously.
Next steps
The two men remain in custody and will face prosecution. Investigators are working to determine whether the incident is an isolated attempt or part of a wider counterfeiting network. Will the probe reveal a larger operation?