Phuket –
Thai authorities have arrested a German national operating as a yacht captain in the Andaman Sea after uncovering an alleged clandestine luxury tour operation that allegedly sold unauthorized travel packages worth hundreds of thousands of baht per person.
The Central Investigation Bureau told the Phuket Express that they and the Phuket Tourist Police and officials from the Department of Tourism, launched the operation following a five‑month investigation. Officers had been monitoring a network of foreign nationals suspected of running illegal tour businesses under the guise of yacht rental companies.
Investigators discovered that the group, led by a German citizen, was promoting high‑end sailing packages online to German tourists. The packages, advertised as exclusive 10‑day, 10‑night voyages across the Andaman Sea, were sold at premium rates and widely circulated on social media.
On March 12th, officers intercepted a luxury yacht off the coast of Phuket. The vessel was captained by the German suspect and carried six German tourists who confirmed they had booked the trip through a website and paid in advance. Authorities determined that the company behind the yacht had no license to operate as a tour business, despite presenting itself as a rental service.
Police charged the suspect with “operating a tour business without authorization” under the Tourism Business and Guide Act (2008) and “failing to carry a vessel license” under the Navigation in Thai Waters Act (1992).
Further investigations revealed that similar operations are active in the region, often using nominee shareholders or shell companies to conceal foreign ownership. Officials warned that such practices undermine legitimate Thai tour operators who comply with licensing regulations.
