KOH PHANGAN — A 30-year-old Russian man has been arrested on Koh Phangan island, Surat Thani Province, for operating an illegal motorcycle rental business targeting foreign tourists, generating substantial monthly profits over a six-month period.
Tourist police on Koh Phangan launched an investigation following complaints from local residents about unauthorized foreign business activities in the area. Officers discovered the suspect, identified as Timofey, teaching a foreign woman to ride a motorcycle in Village 5, Koh Phangan sub-district.
During the arrest on September 24, police found Timofey in possession of 10 motorcycles used for his rental operation. Despite holding only a tourist visa, the Russian national had been illegally renting motorcycles to visitors, primarily targeting Israeli tourists.
According to testimony from a foreign woman at the scene, customers contacted Timofey through WhatsApp, often through referrals from Israeli friends. The rental rates were set at 400 baht per day or 8,000 baht per month. To avoid detection by authorities, Timofey operated without requiring deposits or passport holds, instead parking motorcycles at various locations and sending GPS coordinates to customers.
Timofey confessed to running the illegal rental business for over six months, earning up to 150,000 baht ($4,670) monthly, totaling over 900,000 baht ($28,000). He had modified some motorcycles to have four wheels, making them easier for his predominantly female Israeli clientele to operate.
The suspect was taken into custody along with all seized motorcycles as evidence. He has been transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station investigators to face charges for operating a business without proper authorization as a foreigner (vehicle rental) and working without a valid work permit.
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