On July 28, 2025, officers led by Lt. Col. Anuek Sathongyu, commander of Pattaya City Police Station, along with officers from Chachoengsao Immigration and Nong Prue Police Station, coordinated with the Pattaya Indian Association to raid a two-story townhouse in Nong Prue Subdistrict, Bang Lamung District, Chonburi Province. Intelligence indicated Indian tourists were being held captive and tortured for ransom.

When suspects fled on motorcycles, police entered the residence and found three Indian nationals in bedrooms, bound with tape over their mouths. All three showed signs of severe torture, with bruised ankles from being beaten with hard objects. One victim had spray paint applied to his body to simulate bleeding. The rescued tourists—identified as Himanshu, 23; Ehis, 24; and Mekhid, 26—were relieved and immediately called relatives in India to report their rescue.

According to the victims' account through a translator, they had purchased a seven-day Thailand tour package for approximately 70,000 baht per person. After arriving at Suvarnabhumi Airport at 5 a.m., they took a taxi to Pattaya. At a restaurant on Sukhumvit Road, they were picked up by a motorcyclist who drove them to the townhouse. Upon arrival, approximately four Pakistani nationals and one Indian man bound them, gagged them, hung them upside down, and beat them with sticks. The gang demanded 10 million Indian rupees (approximately 3.5 million baht) from relatives, threatening to extort money in exchange for release. The victims were held from July 21 for more than five days without food, water, or bathroom access, and were beaten daily.

The rescue operation was initiated after the victims' relatives called Thai police from India requesting help to locate their missing family members. Police conducted surveillance and planning before executing the raid.

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Phuket – Authorities in Phuket have carried out a coordinated inspection of business operations in Patong, aiming to ensure compliance with Thai law while safeguarding constitutional freedoms. One of the sites inspected was Chabad House, located in Patong. Officials confirmed that the building is licensed as a restaurant and club, with facilities including dining areas, […] Authorities Conduct Legal Compliance Check at Patong’s Chabad House -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Phuket – Immigration Bureau officers launched a raid in Chalong, Phuket, on July 25, 2026, capturing a Russian national identified as the alleged head of a major organized crime syndicate in the Russian Federation. The Phuket Immigration told the Phuket Express. The operation was carried out under a search warrant issued by the Phuket Provincial […] Russian “Mafia” Boss Arrested in Phuket on Extradition Warrant -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

The Phuket Express -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

Phuket— Provincial authorities in Phuket have revoked the operating licenses of five cannabis shops in the island’s Old Town district after uncovering multiple violations of legal conditions. The sweep targeted cannabis retailers in the popular Phuket Old Town area on Monday (July 26th), a hub for both locals and tourists. Authorities said the crackdown was […] Authorities Shut Down Five Cannabis Shops in Phuket Old Town  -=-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=- The Phuket Express - Real. Unbiased. Impactful. In the moment.

Police at Bang Khae Station, along with volunteers from the Tai Mai Thon (Thai Won't Tolerate) group, arrested 21-year-old Shan construction worker Nai Rai on July 27, 2569 after the victim's relatives sought help through the Tai Mai Thon network. The girl's family reported that the suspect had sexually abused their 15-year-old relative, who was left unattended in a condominium while her mother worked elsewhere. Officers apprehended the suspect outside a convenience store on Jaeng Wattana 5 Road in Lat Phrao district.

According to Ton Aeo Pen Nueang, a volunteer coordinator, after receiving the report from Tae Tai Mai Thon, they gathered evidence and coordinated with the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), which specializes in child protection cases. They reviewed communications between the victim and the suspect, and learned that the suspect had arranged to meet the girl, prompting them to plan an intervention. The victim is currently confirmed to have contracted sexually transmitted infections, and her menstrual cycle has stopped, raising serious concerns about possible pregnancy.

The victim's mother has been criticized for leaving her young daughter alone in the condominium while she worked. The case also raised questions about the suspect's immigration status; he reportedly works without a formal employer but holds a pink ID card. Officials expressed concern about unregistered migrant workers and emphasized the need for stronger enforcement by government agencies.

Ae Tae Tai Mai Thon stated that he discussed the case with the suspect, who admitted to knowing the girl through social media and acknowledged the sexual relationship but claimed he did not know her age. The suspect, being Shan, may have had communication barriers. A children's home and child protection agency in Bangkok will now take custody of the victim for care and medical evaluation, including pregnancy testing if necessary.

Tae also commented on parental responsibility, urging mothers and fathers to take greater care of their children and respond immediately when there are signs of trouble, rather than leaving children to seek help from others. He emphasized that prevention is better than remediation, as some harm cannot be reversed once it occurs.

Police at Bang Khae Station continue to investigate the suspect and will proceed with legal action accordingly.

A husband-and-wife theft duo who prowled residential areas stealing motorcycles have been arrested. The two suspects, dressed in sleepwear and wearing helmets, rode to a dormitory in Moo 7, Chiang Rak Noi Subdistrict, Bang Pa-In District, Ayutthaya Province on July 24. The woman pushed an unlocked Honda Wave motorcycle away while her husband waited on a separate bike, and security cameras captured the theft clearly.

When the victim returned on July 26 and discovered the motorcycle missing, he reviewed the CCTV footage and filed a report with Bang Pa-In Police Station. Within less than 24 hours, investigators learned the suspects had fled to Uthai District and discovered the stolen motorcycle being sold on a Facebook group for used and seized vehicles at 17,000 baht. Police arranged an undercover purchase at a gas station in Uthai District.

When the suspects arrived, officers identified them as Anon, 31, and Sarakam, 30, a married couple. Both confessed to conducting midnight motorcycle patrols, targeting vehicles left unlocked, and specifically choosing Honda Wave models because they are popular and quick to resell. Investigators charged them with nighttime theft while concealing their identities and using vehicles to facilitate their crimes. They were detained pending prosecution.