KOH PHANGAN, THAILAND — Police on the southern island carried out two coordinated actions on 4 and 5 November 2024, arresting three foreign nationals and seizing cocaine during a midday raid in the Moo 1 area.
Undercover officers seize cocaine at rented house
At approximately 12:00 p.m. on 5 November 2024, officers from the Ko Pha‑ngan Police Station disguised themselves as joggers before surveilling a house in Moo 1 village following a neighbour’s complaint about suspicious activity. After confirming the report, the officers stormed the property, where they found 26‑year‑old Russian national Roman and 28‑year‑old French national Hugo seated at a table. A white powder later identified as 3.14 grams of cocaine lay before them.
Both men attempted to flee through a rear exit but were detained seconds later by Lieutenant Prasit Chaiyaphon and his team. Inside the property, investigators also confiscated an Ecstasy test kit together with drug paraphernalia.
“THE OPERATION TOOK LESS THAN TEN MINUTES FROM ENTRY TO ARREST,” Lieutenant Prasit told reporters outside the district station on Haad Rin Road, adding that “THE SUSPECTS WERE CAUGHT WHILE PREPARING TO CONSUME THE DRUGS.”
Charges and ongoing investigation
Following the raid, Roman was charged with possession of cocaine, while Hugo faced charges of drug consumption under Thailand’s Narcotics Act B.E. 2522. Both suspects were transferred to the Ko Pha‑ngan Station evidence unit along with the seized drugs. Investigators have submitted samples to the Provincial Forensic Science Centre Surat Thani for verification. Police are now tracing the supply route of the narcotics through island nightlife venues.
Visa overstay arrest near Ban Thong Sala
In a separate case the previous day, 4 November 2024, immigration officers stationed at Ban Thong Sala Pier detained 34‑year‑old Ukrainian Yegor after a passport inspection near Phantip Market. According to Captain Somchai Boonyarat of Koh Samui Immigration, Yegor had overstayed his visa by 326 days.
Immigration records showed the man entered Thailand through Satun Province in October 2023, with his last authorised extension valid until 13 December 2023. “HE ADMITTED STAYING KNOWINGLY BEYOND HIS PERMIT AND UNDERSTOOD THE PENALTY,” Captain Somchai said during questioning at 2:15 p.m. the same day.
Legal consequences and coordination between agencies
All three detainees remain in custody pending court appearances in Surat Thani provincial court later this month. The Drug Suppression Division 9, led by Colonel Natthaporn Siriwat, confirmed that the pair arrested on 5 November face potential prison terms before deportation and possible multi‑year entry bans. The Ukrainian suspect faces administrative deportation, a 50,000‑baht fine, and a five‑year re‑entry ban.
Colonel Natthaporn stated that the coordinated arrests between Ko Pha‑ngan Police and Immigration Division 6 form part of a wider sweep targeting undocumented or criminal foreign residents on Gulf‑of‑Thailand islands. “WE WILL CONTINUE DAILY CHECKS UNTIL THE END OF NOVEMBER TO PREVENT FURTHER ILLEGAL ACTIVITIES,” he said outside the division’s base on Koh Samui.
Ongoing enforcement campaign
Authorities confirmed that between 1 and 10 November 2024, eight inspections were conducted across Haad Rin, Ban Tai, and Thong Sala. Three additional foreigners are under investigation for drug links uncovered through mobile phone data seized during these arrests. Officials plan to file interim reports to the Ministry of Interior before 20 November 2024, detailing foreign crime trends on the island.
“KOH PHANGAN REMAINS A TOURIST DESTINATION, BUT THE LAW APPLIES TO EVERYONE,” Colonel Natthaporn told local media, “AND ANY ONE ARREST REMOVES A NETWORK POINT FROM THE DRUG SUPPLY CHAIN.”