Marine police in Phuket have struck a blow against notorious jet ski scam artists, arresting five operators and confiscating eight unlicensed watercraft in a targeted raid on Friday. The operation comes after years of rampant complaints from tourists about extortionate rental fees and fraudulent damage claims.

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Authorities revealed that unscrupulous operators have been systematically overcharging visitors, then falsely accusing them of damaging the jet skis to demand inflated “repair fees” – a scam that has tarnished Phuket’s reputation as a tourist destination.

“The Central Investigation Bureau ordered this crackdown to protect both tourists and Thailand’s tourism image,” said Pol Lt Gen Jirabhop Bhuridej, CIB commissioner. Marine police conducted undercover surveillance before moving in on the illegal operations.

Marine police have seized eight unlicensed jet-skis and arrested five operators in Phuket during a crackdown on scam gangs preying on tourists.

High rental fees and exorbitant charges for ‘damages’ among frequent tourist complaints.

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All five arrested operators now face multiple charges, including operating unregistered watercraft and fraud. Police warn that additional raids are planned across Phuket’s popular beaches.

The crackdown follows mounting pressure from tourism officials to clean up Phuket’s watersports industry, with some victims reporting being forced to pay tens of thousands of baht for nonexistent damage. Authorities urge tourists to only rent from licensed operators and immediately report any suspicious demands to the new tourist police hotline.

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“This is just the beginning,” warned a marine police spokesperson. “We’re putting all jet ski operators on notice – the scam era in Phuket is over.”

-Thailand News (TN)