SURAT THANI – A Russian man has been taken into custody by Koh Phangan tourism police for operating an unauthorized vehicle rental service and possessing illegal substances. The arrest of 37-year-old Mikhail Shatskii occurred on October 20, 2025, following a targeted operation prompted by a tip-off about his unlicensed business.

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Acting on information about a bamboo-shed rental shop located on Ban Maduea Wan, authorities deployed an undercover officer who posed as a customer. During the sting operation, Shatskii provided the officer with a Mitsubishi car and 2,000 baht in cash, leading to his immediate detention. Upon arrest, the suspect was unable to produce a valid work permit for his rental activities and displayed visible signs of nervousness.

A subsequent search of his residence revealed further legal complications. While a work permit was found identifying him as a company director, the registered address of the company did not correspond with the location of his rental shop. The search also uncovered a cache of illicit items, including one bag of psilocybin mushrooms, five electronic cannabis devices, and multiple mushroom-infused products such as snack boxes and chocolates. Ten motorcycles and one car were also seized from the property.

Police on Koh Phangan have arrested a Russian national operating an unlicensed motorcycle rental business after foreign tourists reported he had confiscated their passports and demanded excessive compensation for minor damages to rental vehicles. #kohphangan #thailand…

— Khaosod English (@KhaosodEnglish) October 21, 2025

Shatskii confessed to owning the confiscated items, stating they were for his personal use and claiming he was unaware of their illegal status. He also admitted to operating the vehicle rental business for two months without the proper authorization. Police have formally charged him with four offenses: operating a business without permission as a foreigner, working beyond the scope of his legal rights, possession of Class 5 narcotics for personal use, and possession of undeclared imported goods. He has been transferred to Koh Phangan Police Station for legal proceedings.

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In response to the incident, Tourism Police Chief Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira Phueak-um has directed officers in all tourist areas to intensify crackdowns on criminal activities involving foreign nationals. He emphasized the importance of strict prosecution in all such cases to uphold a safe and trustworthy environment for tourists.

-Thailand News (TN)