Thai police arrested four Israeli tourists on Sunday as part of an investigation following a raid on what was described as a “drug party.”
Officers raided a luxury villa on the resort island of Koh Phangan on Tuesday as part of a national operation by the tourism police to crack down on suspected foreign gangs involved in criminal activity.
The raid involved officers from the tourism police, provincial police, immigration officials, and local authorities. Local media reported that suspicions of illicit activity arose after locals reported a noisy party during the night and noticed “suspicious” movements with foreigners entering and leaving the compound.
Police stated that when they arrived on the scene of the incident, they encountered an Israeli man “who appeared nervous and tried to escape.” It was reported that “a search of the villa revealed traces of white powder scattered on a table.”
Police added that inside they found two Israeli women, and seized substances suspected of being cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA.
Thai media outlets say that during the interrogation of the suspects, the three told investigators that they had purchased the drugs via WhatsApp from an Israeli man.
In a later search of the man’s home, police confiscated 33.36 grams of cocaine, 16.07 grams of ketamine, MDMA in tablets and powder, LSD stamps, and 79,000 baht in cash. The officers arrested the man at the scene.
The three arrested at the villa were charged with joint possession of narcotics and psychotropic substances for sale, drug use, and possession of untaxed electronic cigarettes.
The man who allegedly sold the drugs was charged with possession and sale of narcotics, including cocaine and ketamine, as well as drug use.
All four suspects were transferred to the police station in Ko Phangan for further legal proceedings. Authorities said they would also work to deport them and ban them from re-entering Thailand in the future.
According to the investigators' description, the drugs were packaged in ziplock bags with a gun-shaped logo, an emblem they had not recognized and considered a possible symbol of a criminal network. According to the police, this was a group that focused on selling drugs to Israeli tourists at parties around the island.
Efforts to promote Thailand as a safe destination
The arrests were described as part of efforts to cleanse Koh Phangan of foreign criminal influence and promote it as a safe destination for visitors.
Senior Thai police officials held a series of meetings with Israeli and Jewish officials in October, amid growing frustration in the country over crimes committed by visiting Israelis.
Thai officials stated that they expect Israeli tourists to behave better in the future, following a meeting between the Thai police and Superintendent Avi Biton, a special adviser to the National Security Staff in the Prime Minister's Office.
Surat Thani Provincial Police Commander, Major General Suat Suksari, said Biton expressed strong support for Thailand's need to take swift, firm, and unhesitating action against Israeli criminals, including those running illegal businesses. Biton returned to Israel following the meeting. Mutual understandings and cooperation are expected to continue.
Another similar meeting was also held in the town of Pai, where allegations against Israelis were raised about a year ago. A Chabad representative attended the meeting.