Russian man arrested off Phuket over illegal fishing tours on Telegram
Russian tourist arrested at sea while running illegal fishing tours via Telegram 🚤 Police launched a specialised operation at sea off Chalong Bay, Phuket, Thailand, to apprehend a Russian national operating a fishing…
A Russian national was arrested at sea off Chalong Bay on May 6 for allegedly running illegal fishing tours advertised on Telegram in Phuket, police said. Officers said he was intercepted by patrol boat while guiding six other foreign tourists on a fishing trip after an investigation into unlicensed tour operations.
The case followed a tip-off to the 1155 hotline about tour ads posted in a Telegram group. Pol Lt Col Ekachai Siri said undercover officers spent months infiltrating the group to collect evidence.
Undercover booking led to sea operation
Investigators advanced the case when an undercover agent booked a fishing tour for 3,000 baht per person, officials said. That booking formed part of the evidence used in the marine operation.
Police charged the man with operating a tour business without a permit, acting as a guide without a license and working outside the scope of his permitted activities. The arrest was carried out under a wider crackdown ordered by Pol Lt Gen Saksira Puek-am on foreign nationals accused of doing jobs reserved for Thai citizens.
Authorities said they will seek to revoke the Russian national’s permission to stay in the kingdom and deport him after legal proceedings. Police said the operation was conducted jointly by the Tourist Police and the Department of Tourism.
Source: https://www.instagram.com/p/DYEtRLNki_j/
