KOH PHANGAN — A 22-year-old German man wanted in his home country for an armed extortion case was arrested on Koh Phangan after local residents complained about his loud motorcycle and reckless driving, police said Monday.
Officers from Koh Phangan Tourist Police, the Koh Phangan Police Station, Surat Thani Immigration, and local administrative officials launched an operation after receiving multiple complaints that a foreign man was riding a motorcycle without a license plate, using a modified exhaust pipe, and speeding through residential areas, endangering others.
Authorities monitored and recorded the man’s dangerous behavior — including weaving through traffic, overtaking on solid lines, and speeding around curves — before intercepting him at a coin-operated car wash.
The suspect was identified as Sukru, 22, a German national. Police seized his motorcycle and a set of brass knuckles found in his shoulder bag.
Pol. Lt. Col. Winich Boonchit of the Tourist Police Division said a background check revealed a shocking discovery — Sukru was the subject of an Interpol Red Notice and an arrest warrant from Germany for a serious armed extortion case. The suspect reportedly admitted to committing the crime in Germany before fleeing to Thailand.
He has been charged with reckless driving and possession of a weapon, and was handed over to investigators at Koh Phangan Police Station. Authorities have also contacted German law enforcement to coordinate his extradition.
Tourist Police Commissioner Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phueak-arm has ordered intensified crackdowns on foreign criminals hiding in popular tourist destinations to ensure safety and confidence among visitors during the upcoming high season.
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