Foreign nationals linked to 3,218 Phuket cases; drunk driving leads charges
Phuket — Police statistics reveal that between January 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, foreign nationals were implicated in more than 3,200 criminal cases across Phuket, showing the challenges of law enforcement in one of…
Phuket Provincial Police recorded 3,218 criminal cases involving 3,484 foreign suspects between Jan. 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, with drunk driving the most common offense. The figures, reported on May 9, show foreign nationals were implicated in more than 3,200 cases across Phuket over the 16-month period.
Police said tourists made up the largest share, accounting for 2,223 cases and 2,394 suspects. The statistics point to the heavy law-enforcement workload tied to the island’s large visitor flow and foreign workforce.
Tourist arrests dominate, while labor offenses remain significant
Businesspeople and workers were linked to 186 cases involving 208 suspects, according to police. Authorities said the case mix also reflected recurring labor and immigration violations.
After drunk driving, the next most common charges were working without authorization with 410 cases, illegal entry with 376, reckless driving with 163, and overstaying visas with 158.
Among all 3,484 suspects, Myanmar nationals were the largest group at 946 people. Police said that reflected Phuket’s substantial migrant worker population.
Source: https://thephuketexpress.com/2026/05/09/foreign-nationals-face-over-3000-criminal-cases-in-phuket-so-far-this-year-drunk-driving-tops-list-of-offenses/
