KOH PHANGAN — A Myanmar woman broke down in tears during a police raid on a cannabis shop that was illegally serving shisha to tourists, fearing deportation after being arrested by the same officers before.
Tourist police on Koh Phangan raided a cannabis shop in the Pantip Market area Thursday evening following complaints that the establishment was secretly doubling as a bar selling hookah or shisha to visiting tourists.
During the raid, officers found two Myanmar women working at the shop. Sandar, 41, was serving water and hookah to customers inside the establishment, while Thandar, 28, was handling customer service and cash transactions at the counter. Both possessed valid passports and work permits as laborers valid until March 31, 2026.
Emotional Arrest Scene
Sandar burst into tears during the inspection, as she had previously been arrested by the same police unit and feared being sent back to Myanmar. Officers had to console her before proceeding with questioning.
Sandar admitted to working at the shop for four months, earning 3,000 baht per week. Her duties included lighting charcoal for hookah, preparing shisha liquid in containers for customers, serving water and food, and cleaning the shop.
Thandar confessed to working as a cashier, taking orders and handling cash transactions. She said hookah prices varied based on flavor and quantity chosen by customers. She claimed never to have met the Russian shop owner but transferred daily sales revenue to his account. The shop earned 10,000-15,000 baht ($305-460) per day from customers.
Charges and Evidence
Both women were charged with working beyond their permitted scope (as laborers rather than service staff) and concealing the sale of goods that had not cleared customs procedures.
Police seized evidence including:23 packets of shisha liquid, 5 cans of shisha liquid, 8 rectangular cans of shisha liquid, 7 hookah machines, and 13 hookah hoses.
The workers have been sent to investigators who will file charges against the Russian shop owner for prosecution.
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