Phuket officials deny mafia presence, point to foreign criminal cases

Authorities said on May 7 that Phuket does not face a mafia problem but is dealing with foreign criminals, with enforcement focused on illegal work and cross-border crime. Officials identified foreigners taking local jobs as a primary issue and cited Phuket police action against illegal car rental businesses in April as one recent example.

Authorities are also conducting strict inspections of entertainment venues, and officials said anyone found breaking the law will face severe legal action.

High-level policymakers are set to hold further discussions on taxes and regulations aimed at making enforcement more effective.

Crypto kidnapping cases show pattern targeting foreigners

Police linked the warning to a November 2024 case in Phang-nga involving a four-man gang made up of one Armenian, two Russians and one Ukrainian. Investigators said the group allegedly abducted a Ukrainian tourist and forced him to transfer 8.56 million baht in cryptocurrency under threats of violence.

The victim, Leibov, escaped and gave police the suspects’ passport details. Officers secured arrest warrants within days and arrested the group before they could cross into Malaysia.

Earlier Naka Market abduction led to prison terms

In January 2024, five Russian men kidnapped a Belarusian man and his wife near Naka Market, police said. The couple were forced into a vehicle, held at a private residence and coerced into transferring nearly 30 million baht in cryptocurrency.

All five men were sentenced to two years in prison after pleading guilty. Commander Sinlert said the cases fit the same operating model seen across all three recorded cases: foreign nationals targeting other foreign nationals known to hold cryptocurrency before trying to flee the country.

Source: https://thethaiger.com/news/phuket/no-mafia-in-phuket-only-foreign-criminals