The following is our weekly feature in which we highlight the top local stories in our area of Phuket from the past week. The number of stories differs from week to week.
These are chosen and curated by our editorial team and are designed for our readers to get a quick “catch-up” of important stories they may have missed. We publish many stories daily and it is easy to lose track of important events or changes in our area. We do national recaps in a separate article, this is only the top local stories in Phuket and nearby provinces.
They are in no particular order of importance but roughly in order of publishing. These are from Monday, March 10th to Sunday March 16th, 2024.
1. Two German and Turkish men were arrested after they allegedly attacked a Russian man at a hotel in Patong over a dispute with a Finnish woman.
Two Germans and a Turkish Man Arrested for Allegedly Attacking Russian Man in Patong
They claimed however that they met a female Finnish woman at an entertainment venue and went to her room just to drop her off and make sure she arrived home safely, according to them. Her Russian boyfriend was in the room and they started an argument before brawling.
2. A Nigerian national was arrested on drug charges in Kamala this week after a viral social media video exposed illegal activity, according to local authorities.
Nigerian Man Arrested with Cocaine in Kamala, Phuket, Swiss Man Involved
Mr. Sascha, who later viewed the viral video, contacted authorities and admitted to being one of the individuals depicted.
3. A Nigerian national who had overstayed his visa was arrested following a high-profile incident involving reckless driving.
Overstaying Nigerian Man Arrested For Drifting Sedan in Phuket
The incident has drawn significant attention due to the viral video and highlights ongoing efforts by Phuket police to address reckless driving and immigration violations in the region.
4. An unidentified body was found floating near the Racha Yai Island.
Authorities are currently checking with local police stations across Phuket to see if there are any missing person reports, which could lead to further investigation.
5. A boat carrying over 28 tourists on a diving trip caught fire on Sunday (March 16th). One British tourist has an unclear status with some media claiming they are missing and others stating they passed away, without clear confirmation as of press time.
Tourist Boat Fire Near Koh Tao Leads to Dramatic Rescue, One Passengers Status Unclear- VIDEO
According to multiple Thai media outlets first reported, a British woman who was on the boat is missing.
6 On March 15th, four British men were arrested at Koh Samui Airport in Surat Thani, Thailand, for attempting to illegally smuggle 131 kilograms of cannabis out of the country.
Four British Men Arrested in Koh Samui For Attempting to Illegally Export Cannabis to the Uk
On March 12th, four other British nationals were caught at the same airport with 144 kilograms of cannabis stuffed into seven large suitcases,
That’s it for this week. Be safe!
