SURAT THANI – A tour company illegally operated by a German national and a Myanmar citizen on Koh Phangan has been shut down by tourist police. The arrests took place at noon on Monday following complaints from local residents regarding unregistered electric motorcycles being driven at high speeds by tourists under the company’s guidance.

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The German suspect, identified as 33-year-old Mr. R., and his 31-year-old Myanmar employee, P. A., were detained during the operation. According to police, Mr. R. confessed to hiring the Myanmar national as a tour guide for his company, which had been in operation for approximately six months. The firm charged clients 2,000 baht per hour for guided e-bike tours around the island.

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Further investigation revealed that the company was headquartered on nearby Koh Samui and had unlawfully established a branch operation on Koh Phangan without proper authorization. A police spokesman of the Surat Thani tourist police emphasized that tour guide services are strictly reserved for Thai nationals under the Kingdom’s Foreign Business Act. The two suspects now face legal proceedings for violating Thai business and employment regulations.

-Thailand News (TN)