Two foreign nationals, a 60-year-old Russian retiree and an 18-year-old Ukrainian student, were arrested on September 2 in Koh Phangan for illegally working in Thailand. The arrests were part of a coordinated operation by the Tourist Police, Koh Phangan District Chief, and other local law enforcement agencies to crack down on foreign workers engaged in occupations reserved for Thai nationals.
The Russian man, identified as Andrei, was apprehended at a residence on Thong Sala-Ban Nai Wok Road, Moo 1, where he was found to be renting out cars without a work permit. Authorities seized a Mazda vehicle as evidence. Andrei admitted to using the Telegram app to advertise his rental services, primarily targeting Russian expatriates on the island. He required a deposit of 15,000 baht per person as a guarantee.
Meanwhile, Dmytro, the Ukrainian teenager, was arrested in a hotel parking lot in Moo 4 for the same offense. Authorities confiscated a Yamaha motorcycle linked to his illegal rental business. Dmytro, who came to Thailand for his studies, confessed to renting out vehicles for about two months, advertising his services in Andrei’s Telegram group. His rental rates varied depending on the duration, ranging from 399 to 10,000 baht.
Both men were taken to Koh Phangan Police Station for further legal action. According to Section 8 of Thai law, foreigners working without a work permit or exceeding their permitted rights face fines between 5,000 and 50,000 baht, deportation, and a two-year ban on applying for a work permit.
It was reported that the authorities plan to continue monitoring and investigating similar illegal activities on the island.
