KOH PHANGAN — Thai police have arrested a Russian national operating an unlicensed motorcycle rental business on Koh Phangan after foreign tourists reported he had confiscated their passports and demanded excessive compensation for minor damages to rental vehicles.
Following multiple complaints from foreign tourists, a joint task force comprising Tourist Police from Koh Phangan, Surat Thani Immigration Police, Koh Phangan Police Station, and local administrative officials launched an investigation that identified the suspect.
On the evening of October 19, officers arrested 37-year-old Russian national Mikhail at his bamboo hut residence in Ban Maduean Wan area along Thong Sala-Chaloklum Road. During the sting operation, police used marked 2,000-baht bills to catch him in the act—the same bills were later found in his pants pocket.
Ten motorcycles seized from the illegal rental operation. The Russian operator also confiscated tourists’ passports as collateral. Koh Phangan, October 19, 2025.
Drugs and Illegal Goods Uncovered
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The search of Mikhail’s bamboo hut residence yielded significant contraband. Officers seized one bag of dried psilocybin mushrooms classified as Category 5 narcotics, five cannabis vape devices ready for use, nine boxes of mushroom-infused edibles, and eight boxes of mushroom-infused chocolate.
Police also confiscated 10 motorcycles and one car, all of which were being rented to tourists without proper business licensing. The total value of seized items and vehicles runs into the millions of baht.
Suspect’s Confession
Mikhail admitted ownership of all seized items, claiming the drugs were for personal use and that he was unaware they were illegal. He confessed to operating the vehicle rental business for approximately two months without any license or authorization.
The Passport Extortion Scheme
Tourists had reported that Mikhail would seize their passports as collateral when renting motorcycles. When vehicles were returned with even minor scratches or issues, he would demand compensation and time penalties far exceeding actual damages, effectively holding tourists’ passports hostage and preventing them from continuing their travels.
Police uncover illegal narcotics during a search of the Russian man’s Koh Phangan residence, October 19, 2025.
Four Criminal Charges Filed
Authorities at Koh Phangan Police Station have charged Mikhail with: operating a business as a foreign national without authorization (vehicle rental), working as a foreign national beyond permitted scope, illegal possession of Category 5 narcotics (psilocybin mushrooms) for personal consumption, and concealing, selling, disposing of, purchasing, or possessing goods brought into Thailand without proper customs clearance (cannabis vapes). The total value of seized items and vehicles is estimated at several million baht.
Police General Saksira Phueak-am, Commissioner of the Tourist Police Bureau, has ordered tourist police stations in major destinations and surrounding areas to intensify crackdowns on foreign nationals committing crimes while posing as legitimate business operators.
“We will prosecute every case without exception to restore confidence among tourists and protect Thailand’s tourism image,” he stated, emphasizing zero tolerance for such criminal activities.
This guy will find out the hard way that Thai prison is NO where you want to be.
How stupid can you get?
Source: Khaosod English