KO PHA-NGAN, THAILAND – Tourist Police officers led by Police Lieutenant Colonel Winij Boonchit detained 40‑year‑old Briton Maria [surname withheld] on Tuesday at 16:45 local time inside a restaurant in Village 8, after discovering her instructing a paid ‘Tantra Yoga’ class attended by at least six foreign participants.
Facebook tip leads to swift raid
A Facebook user reported a weekly advertisement promoting ‘Tantra Yoga’ sessions every Tuesday from 16:30 to 18:00, priced at 400 Baht per person. Lieutenant Colonel Boonchit, from Tourist Police Station 5, launched an investigation within 24 hours and organised the on‑site operation. When officers arrived, they found Maria teaching meditation and yoga poses inside the establishment. Each participant had reportedly paid the fee in cash before the lesson began.
Permit violation triggers arrest
During the inspection, police investigators confirmed that the suspect held a valid passport and a Thai work permit restricted to employment as a Customer Relations Manager at a local hotel management company. The law enforcement team determined that yoga instruction fell outside that authorization. Maria admitted collecting the 400 Baht fee from each student and returning an undisclosed percentage to the restaurant owner. Officers charged her under the Foreign Employment Act for working beyond her permitted job category.
Evidence uncovers erotic class content
A subsequent search of the venue recovered:
– Five printed entry tickets for the class
– Twelve promotional flyers advertising Tantra massages for couples
– One notebook titled “Tantra Yoga Sacred Sex”
– A promotional board featuring Maria’s photo and a QR code for registration
According to the police report filed on Wednesday morning, these materials supported allegations that the sessions involved explicit content rather than standard yoga instruction.
Similar offences recorded last year
The Tourist Police Bureau referenced an incident from March 2023, when a Polish YouTuber was arrested for offering a comparable ‘Tantra Yoga’ course at 7,440 Baht per couple. That case resulted in deportation after trial in Surat Thani Provincial Court.
National command orders crackdown
Tourist Police Commissioner Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak‑am in Bangkok confirmed on Wednesday that new directives had been issued to all provincial divisions. “WE WILL NOT ALLOW FOREIGNERS TO MISUSE TOURISM VENUES OR HARM THE COUNTRY’S IMAGE DURING HIGH SEASON,” he stated. Lieutenant General Saksira instructed units to increase inspections throughout Ko Samui, Krabi, and Phuket before December 2024, targeting unlicensed courses, erotic workshops, and similar paid events.
Measures to protect tourism reputation
Officials from the Ministry of Tourism and Sports recorded three comparable arrests in southern provinces since January 2024. The ministry reported that local tour operators had submitted seven formal complaints about misleading ‘spiritual retreats’. “WE NEED TO KEEP HOLIDAY DESTINATIONS SAFE AND RESPECTFUL,” said Deputy Minister Thanapon Chantarak, emphasizing enforcement of the Foreign Employment Act (B.E.2521) adopted 45 years ago.
Case outcome pending
Maria remains under custody at the Surat Thani Immigration Office, pending a court hearing scheduled for 2 September 2024. Documents show she faces a potential fine of up to 100,000 Baht and deportation if convicted. The restaurant owner in Village 8 received a written warning and could face licence suspension should further violations occur.