
PHUKET — In a tragic turn of events at Phuket’s Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) 2025, two international tourists died and three foreign nationals were arrested for drug possession during the three-day electronic music festival.
The incident occurred at the Boat Avenue Lakefront venue, where a 32-year-old Vietnamese-American and a 28-year-old Canadian collapsed in separate incidents on Saturday night. Both were rushed to Thalang Hospital but did not survive.
Following these deaths, Cherng Talay Police intensified their security measures, leading to the arrest of three festival attendees. Among those detained were a 52-year-old Japanese national found with cocaine, a 33-year-old Myanmar citizen charged with methamphetamine use, and a 29-year-old Malaysian national who faced multiple charges for possessing ecstasy and cocaine, as well as methamphetamine use.

Law enforcement officials also identified four individuals suspected of illegal cannabis distribution within the festival grounds. These arrests occurred on January 19, the final day of the event, contradicting earlier statements from local police about the effectiveness of security screening measures.
The EDC Thailand 2025, which ran from January 17-19, featured an impressive lineup of over 90 international DJs, including renowned artists such as Skrillex, Afrack, ILLENIUM, FISHER, and REZZ. Local talent was also represented, with Thai DJ “AMP KILLA” (Amorn Mahima) among the performers.
This incident has raised concerns about drug safety protocols at major music festivals in Thailand, prompting authorities to review security measures for future events.
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