Russian mafia-style ‘gangs’ causing concerns for Phuket businesses

[webfact]

Businesses in Patong

 

By Flipboard

The hospitality industry in Phuket is facing a problem with foreign mafia-style gangs becoming increasingly involved in business on the resort island. Industry executives are concerned that foreigners are exploiting laws to run their own businesses while also taking up jobs only legal for local people.

 

Kata Group Resorts founder, Pramookpisitt Achariyachai, spoke during a recent meeting about tourism issues in the three Andaman provinces of Phuket Krabi and Shang Nga, stating that some foreigners were breaching rules on jobs reserved for Thais.

 

Businesses currently run by groups of foreigners include taxi services and accommodation, with some foreigners renting villas and condo units abandoned during the Covid-19 pandemic, and then re-renting them out again to their countrymen – and often at highly inflated prices. Mr. Pramookpisitt claimed that they were “mostly Russians”.

 

He expressed concern that “foreign mafia groups” may take control of the island, similar to what happened in Pattaya a couple of decades ago, and urged Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, to deal with these concerns.

 

Business owners around the Bangla Road walking street are also complaining about the increase in Russian ‘prostitutes’ that have infiltrated the area and causing problems for the local sex industry.

 

Mr. Phiphat acknowledged the growing problems and increasing complaints and assured the industry executives that authorities would look into the matter.

 

“I’m certain most Thais will not tolerate it if foreigners are trying to steal their jobs. Authorities from various agencies will look into the matter as the prime minister has also ordered the Royal Thai Police to crack down on it.”

 

In addition to the issue of foreign mafia groups, local residents and tourists have also complained about infrastructure shortcomings in the three Andaman provinces.

 

“These include insufficient public transport, poor quality roads, and excessive traffic congestion, especially in Phuket.

 

“Low occupancy rates among small-sized hotels in some popular tourism destinations are also a concern even as the tourism economy is starting to revive.”

 

Many smaller guesthouses and hotels remain closed at this time.

 

To address these issues, Mr. Phiphat says that the ministry plans to promote the three provinces as the ‘Andaman Triangle’.

 

“Phuket will be pushed as the centre of the triangle, while Phang Nga and Krabi will be promoted as low-carbon city destinations focused on eco-tourism. The ministry will also promote Khlong Thom district in Krabi as a spa destination because of the famous natural hot springs in the area.”

 

Source: https://phuket-go.com/phuket-news/phuket-news/russian-mafia-style-gangs-causing-concerns-for-phuket-businesses/

 

-- © Copyright Phuket GO 2023-02-20

 

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[OneMoreFarang]

One would think that the Phuket authorities have lots of experience with mafia style organized crime... 

[Hamus Yaigh]

You reap what you sow.

[ezzra]

What took it so long? it was a matter of time before some mafia will start harassing/stand over traders seeing the good business climate in Phuket at the moment.

[RandiRona]

So Thai Mafia in Phuket has some competition now and they are concerned? May be they are able to break Thai Taxi Mafia monopoly which even Army can’t. Corruption doesn’t care about nationality but money! 

[Mr Meeseeks]

Good luck dealing with the Russians. The Thais are not prepared for what is to come.

[jacko45k]

20 minutes ago, Hamus Yaigh said:

You reap what you sow.

Exactly.... so much for the red carpet treatment they presented when tourists first arrived from there!

[BananaStrong]

Russians are desperate.  Thais are desperate.  Russians spend more money, plus envelopes.  They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.   Wait until they can buy a Thai passport 

[BananaStrong]

2 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

"Mafia-style" taxis, renting accommodation and street hookers?  Thai hyperbole more like. It's hardly violence etc. is it?  no shoot-outs?  "steal their jobs" is hardly "mafia-style" 

I’ve met with the Godfather.   Much different than a shootout 

[BobBKK]

3 minutes ago, BananaStrong said:

Russians are desperate.  Thais are desperate.  Russians spend more money, plus envelopes.  They aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.   Wait until they can buy a Thai passport 

Thais will want to keep the corruption for themselves for sure as for any envelopes it's a way of life here unfortunately. Hopefully it will begin to change when they vote out the dinosaurs in May.

 

[Bkk Brian]

6 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

"Mafia-style" taxis, renting accommodation and street hookers?  Thai hyperbole more like. It's hardly violence etc. is it?  no shoot-outs?  "steal their jobs" is hardly "mafia-style" 

I don't consider the OP hyperbole at all. Its a genuine concern

[Patong2021]

50 minutes ago, BobBKK said:

Ever tried dealing with Ukrainians? 

Ok, but that is irrelevant. The issue is the expanding activity of the previously low key Russian gangster class. They used to have free run of western Europe and USA/Canada, but have had their activities pressed down upon. Now they come to easy pickings in Thailand. Ukrainians are not doing this in Phuket.

[CharlieH]

Reported Off topic deflection  and subsequent exchange removed.

[d4dang]

In 1985 the Russian Don was assassinated in his car by a Russian kid in broad daylight on #2 road by the leather shop before Soi Post Office.

The Russians were in Phuket investing but there was very little street crime. The riff raff came later 

[d4dang]

1 hour ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Good luck dealing with the Russians. The Thais are not prepared for what is to come.

They have not tried very hard to stop them other than to cash in.

[smedly]

send them to Ukraine for a dose of reality

[Unify]

3 hours ago, Mr Meeseeks said:

Good luck dealing with the Russians. The Thais are not prepared for what is to come.

Agreed. And Russians taking Thai people's jobs is not the problem to be concerned about. The Russian Mafia is ruthless. If they get a foothold it will be difficult to root them out. 

[Mickeymaus]

Maybe soon mafia fights like shown in gangster films? Another tourist attraction.

[Photoguy21]

23 minutes ago, Unify said:

Agreed. And Russians taking Thai people's jobs is not the problem to be concerned about. The Russian Mafia is ruthless. If they get a foothold it will be difficult to root them out. 

As one movie quote goes "you don't mess with Mother In-laws, Mother Nature or Russian Mother F***rs

[simon43]

In Koh Phangan, where I recently lived, many rental properties are offered at high rents - they are being leased by Russians from the Thai owners and then illegally offered as a sub-lease.

[Tropposurfer]

I remember the response in Pattaya (eventually) by the RTP and special CIB squads set in the RTP to the Russians and they treated them swiftly and extremely harshly both on the way to the paddy wagons and in the courts.

I'd be curious if any A.N. members have definitive knowledge on how the Russian mafia scourge ended up in Patt's and what it is like now (if it in fact still exists there). 

I had heard (this was a decade ago) the RTP had royally kicked their @rses well and truly out of Patt's.

The more I hear of Russians and watch their antics here over some years e.g. Ukraine (when I see or hear them on my sojourns on the island) the less I want to be anywhere near them.

Seems a lot of Russian males I see seem to throw their weight and youthful power about at the drop of a hat (just looking at them by chance), seems to offer opportunities to intimidate and stand-over others. 

Saw a Dutch guy, seemed like a polite, decent fella (a boxer by the look of his handling of these two fellas) was accosted by two muscled up Ruskies in one of our favourite French breakfast spots (one of them was seriously big) in Bang Tao a little while back and when they came at him - because they insisted he step aside and let them pass slapped the boxers chest with the back of his hand to 'swat' him aside, he flattened both of them right quick lol ???????? 

 

[shackleton]

The police and immigration should be doing their jobs checking these people out for having the correct work  Visas  ect 

Probably wishful thinking on my part ???? 

[bangon04]

"“I’m certain most Thais will not tolerate it if foreigners are trying to steal their jobs. Authorities from various agencies will look into the matter as the prime minister has also ordered the Royal Thai Police to crack down on it.”

Mafia / Corruption in Thailand is reserved for the RTP and their sponsors.

 

[Adumbration]

If you refer to my post history you will see that I predicted, months ago, all of the issues raised in this article.

 

I lived in Phuket more than a decade ago before the collapse of the ruble when Russians were thick on the ground.  ATM skimming, card fraud, illegal taxi runs, Russian prostitution and reletting property were all major problems back then.

 

But this time around these problems will be much much worse because these new Russians are refugees and not tourists and their short term visas and meagre savings will soon expire.

 

I am guessing that the language schools in Phuket, Krabi and Patts that offer one year ED visas are now doing a roaring trade.  

[Adumbration]

"Business owners around the Bangla Road walking street are also complaining about the increase in Russian ‘prostitutes’ that have infiltrated the area and causing problems for the local sex industry."

 

Hang on....Prayuth has told us that there is no sex industry in Thailand. Someone must be telling lies.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

The hospitality industry in Phuket is facing a problem with foreign mafia-style gangs becoming increasingly involved in business on the resort island. Industry executives are concerned that foreigners are exploiting laws to run their own businesses while also taking up jobs only legal for local people

Russians need to finance their long stay visas somehow.

[hotchilli]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

He expressed concern that “foreign mafia groups” may take control of the island, similar to what happened in Pattaya a couple of decades ago, and urged Tourism and Sports Minister, Phiphat Ratchakitprakarn, to deal with these concerns

Thai mafia only.

[BobBKK]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

Thai mafia only.

Exactly

 

[Bkk Brian]

1 hour ago, simon43 said:

In Koh Phangan, where I recently lived, many rental properties are offered at high rents - they are being leased by Russians from the Thai owners and then illegally offered as a sub-lease.

Hope you weren't in Phangan last month when this UK women had the top of her finger bitten off 

 

Female British tourist has part of her finger bitten off 'like something out of a horror movie' by Russian woman after argument broke out over a beanbag on a Thai beach

[Andycoops]

What about the chinese mafia gangs...

The country is awash with foreign gangs because the head of the police is a incompetent Muppet, Too, who lets them all in under the guise of tourists,

who then pay to get visas...