A sophisticated drug distribution network utilizing QR code technology has been identified across Phuket, prompting urgent calls for a coordinated law enforcement response. Chalermpong Saengdee, the MP for Phuket Zone 2, issued a public warning via social media, revealing that foreign nationals are placing stickers with scannable codes in public areas and tourist spots.

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According to the MP, scanning these codes directs users to online marketplaces where illegal narcotics are sold using cryptocurrency for payment. The operation employs a covert delivery system, with GPS coordinates provided for secret drop points where purchasers can collect the drugs, allowing sellers to avoid direct contact.

Chalermpong described the digital scheme as a serious and rapidly expanding threat, noting that the use of encryption and online platforms makes these networks particularly difficult for traditional policing methods to detect. He urged the Office of the Narcotics Control Board (ONCB) and other security agencies to launch an immediate investigation, stressing that the trend could severely damage Phuket’s reputation as a world-class tourist destination if not contained promptly.

Game over!

A Russian man who plastered QR codes advertising drugs all over Phuket has been caught—after fleeing to Koh Samui, where he still couldn’t escape.

From lampposts to a jail cell: all for just one dollar per sticker, paid to promote drug sales across the city.… pic.twitter.com/F2xpNtPLJA

— Pure Guava (@pureguava10300) November 6, 2025

An initial investigation by local media confirmed that one of the QR codes links to a Russian-language website which openly advertises substances including Ketamine, Ecstasy, and Mephedrone. The site’s language and content strongly suggest the involvement of Russian-speaking organized crime. Concerns are growing that the network is expanding, with reports from a popular social media page indicating that similar QR code stickers have begun appearing in Bangkok. Authorities are now expected to collaborate with cybercrime and immigration units to dismantle the operation and block the associated online platforms.

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UPDATE: Russian QR Code Drug Promoter Arrested After Fleeing to Koh Samui

The Russian national responsible for plastering Phuket with QR code stickers promoting drug sales has been apprehended by authorities. The suspect, who had fled to Koh Samui in an attempt to evade capture, was successfully tracked down and taken into custody. Police revealed that the man was paid a mere one dollar per sticker to advertise the illicit online drug marketplace, a campaign that had linked physical locations across the city to digital narcotics sales. His arrest concludes a cross-province manhunt sparked by public and political alarm over the sophisticated trafficking method.

-Thailand News (TN)