Phuket –
Police have shut down a clandestine drug operation allegedly run by a group of Russian nationals, who were accused of selling hallucinogenic mushrooms (Magic Mushrooms) to foreign tourists under the guise of spiritual “stress therapy.”
The Region 8 Police told the Phuket Express that on Monday (January 12th) police executed a search warrant at a rented house in Rawai. The raid uncovered 140 bags of Psilocybe cubensis mushrooms (magic mushrooms), commonly known in Thailand as “hed khii kwai” (buffalo dung mushrooms), weighing approximately 10 kilograms.
Inside the property, officers detained two Russian men identified as Rinat and Aleksandr, who were allegedly in possession of the drugs. A third suspect, a Russian woman named Landiysh, fled before the raid and remains at large. The two men were charged with possession of a Category 5 narcotic with intent to sell, while police continued efforts to track down the female suspect.
Authorities said the group had established a makeshift “Mushroom Temple,” promoting themselves as practitioners of alternative stress relief and spiritual healing. Tourists were reportedly charged fees to participate in mushroom-induced “therapy sessions.”
Complaints from the public suggested that some participants became intoxicated and required further “treatment,” raising concerns about exploitation and reputational damage to Phuket’s tourism industry.
Police Major General Lertchai Champathong, commander of the Region 8 Investigation Division, ordered the operation after receiving intelligence that the group was targeting foreign visitors. Officials also expressed concern that the mushrooms could be distributed at upcoming music festivals in Phuket, potentially amplifying the risks.
