Chalong –
A Russian man was found dead with a slit throat and signs of a struggle and foul play at a cannabis farm in Chalong, Phuket.
Major Warawut Sensoap from the Chalong Police told the Phuket Express that they were notified from a Thai man identified only as Mr. Burin, 34, a car rental operator, after midday at 12:30 P.M. on Wednesday (March 13th) about the gruesome discovery.
Mr. Burin told Chalong police that he was contacted by a Russian woman whose identity was withheld by authorities. She said that a Russian man who rented a sedan from Mr. Burin is her boyfriend and had lost contact with her for two days. She asked Mr. Burin to track down the car by GPS navigator.
With the assistance of GPS Mr. Burin and the Russian woman found the white rental sedan in question parked near a two-storey house on a hill in Soi Sai Nam Yen in Chalong. The sedan’s key was found outside on the ground nearby the sedan. The house in question was locked and Phuket law enforcement was called to gain legal entry to what was described by Chalong police as a cannabis farm.
The body of a man who was identified only by his first name, Mr. ARTUR, 42, a Russian national, was found on the floor of the home having bled heavily and was deceased. Many wounds were found on his neck and body. Police believed that he died at least 12 hours before his body was discovered. Signs of a struggle were found near his body with some cannabis trees damaged as well.
Mr. ARTUR had entered Thailand on January 28th of this year, 2024, with a special 90 days tourist visa for Russian nationals with a residential address registered in Phuket, according to Phuket Immigration. His visa was set to expire on April 26th, Major Warawut told the Phuket Express.
The house that Mr. ARTUR was found dead at was reportedly rented by an unidentified Thai woman for her foreign boyfriend, although his nationality and name were not immediately revealed by Major Warawut. Neighbours, who asked for their identities to be withheld out of concern for their health, told Chalong police that many foreigners allegedly visited the house to buy and smoke cannabis. Police are now hunting for a person who is reportedly described only as a foreign suspect.
Further details on this developing story may be released as they are revealed by police.
