Koh Phangan –
Tourist police on Koh Phangan have arrested a 33‑year‑old Russian man after discovering a dangerous mix of illicit drugs inside his rented residence.
The operation was carried out under the direction of Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phuekaam, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, with Pol. Lt. Winij Boonchit, Inspector of Tourist Police Sub‑Division 5, leading the arrest team in coordination with multiple agencies.
The incident began around 7:00 p.m. on February 25th, when officers noticed a car speeding through a community area. After stopping the vehicle, police requested the driver’s passport and identified him as Mr. Evgenii Nikulin, a Russian national. A later search of his residence revealed several types of narcotics openly placed on a table near the bathroom.
Authorities confiscated:
- Ketamine: 1.63 grams of white powder
- Ketamine‑mixed Ecstasy: 1.18 grams of blue powder
- MDMA: brown crystalline form
- Ecstasy pills: three tablets shaped like skulls, in purple and orange
Laboratory analysis confirmed the pills were a new form of high‑concentration MDMA, often mixed with ketamine, cocaine, and caffeine. Known among users by the slang term “candy”, these brightly colored tablets mimic collectible art toys to attract young partygoers. Experts warn that such polydrug combinations dramatically increase the risk of fatal overdose.
Nikulin admitted ownership of the drugs and confessed to consuming ecstasy two days prior. He now faces charges of illegal possession of Category 1 narcotics (Ecstasy, MDMA) and Category 2 substances (Ketamine). He was taken into custody and handed over to Koh Phangan Police Station investigators for prosecution.
