Authorities in Surat Thani Province announced the arrest of a transnational drug syndicate on Koh Phangan, implicating foreign nationals in drug trafficking and money laundering through nominee companies in real estate.

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The operation resulted in the arrests of three suspects: Federico Carlo Eugenio Pistolesi, an Italian national; Roman Malik Bertagnol, a French national; and Anton Zaozerov, a Russian national. A British national, Peter Hull, currently imprisoned on Koh Samui, was also charged in connection with the case.

The investigation began after Hull’s March 2024 arrest for possessing ecstasy and cocaine. Authorities discovered transactions exceeding 71 million baht linked to Hull and Pistolesi over a year.

Coordinated raids on December 11th resulted in the arrests of Pistolesi, Bertagnol, and Zaozerov. Confiscated assets included cocaine, hallucinogenic mushrooms, a bank account holding 6.6 million baht, land worth 8 million baht, and additional properties under investigation, with total assets valued at 44 million baht.

The syndicate reportedly laundered drug money through nominee companies, such as Pure House Phangan Co., Ltd., established by Zaozerov. The company provided services targeting expatriates and used a Thai national, known as “Ms. Meena”, as a nominee shareholder. Ms. Meena now faces charges under the 1999 Foreign Business Act.

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The syndicate’s operations focused on laundering drug sales from Koh Phangan’s nightlife activities through businesses serving expatriates. Authorities plan to investigate further financial connections and will revoke the visas of those implicated following legal proceedings.

Source: National News Bureau of Thailand

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