KOH PHANGAN — Four Israeli soldiers were arrested early Tuesday morning after hosting a drug-fueled party on Koh Phangan that disturbed neighboring tourists.
Tourist police raided a villa at 2:40 a.m. on October 14 following complaints via the 1155 hotline from a French national about loud music and noise continuing past 2 a.m. despite warnings.
Officers found four Israeli men aged 26-27—identified as Daneel, David, Kefer, and Guy—along with 0.59 grams of cocaine and 1.37 grams of MDMA on the dining table.
The suspects, who identified themselves as soldiers on leave, told police they purchased the drugs from an Israeli friend to celebrate a cease-fire declaration. They said 10-15 Israelis had attended the party, with most leaving after the initial noise complaint.
Urine tests showed Daneel and Kefer positive for methamphetamine and cocaine, while David and Guy tested positive for cocaine. All four were charged with possession of Category 1 (MDMA) and Category 2 (cocaine) narcotics, as well as drug consumption. They were handed over to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings.
The incident comes amid growing tensions on the island, with multiple online posts and articles by influencers and independent media, including a “Save Koh Phangan” page, expressing frustrations that the island is following the path of Pai in Mae Hong Son Province, which saw an influx of Israeli tourists, some allegedly displaying behavior disrespectful toward locals and other tourists.
However, authorities confirmed they are monitoring illegal activities by tourists overall, not specifically targeting Israeli nationals.
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