Russian 'Mafia' Caught Extorting Tourists on Koh Pha Ngan

[BangkokReady]

34 minutes ago, ronster said:

So some scruffy skinny guy was running around dressed as a Thai cop pretending he was russian mafia and people believed him ? 😂

 

Doubtful.  The guy's likely mentally ill.  Probably a lot of smiling, nodding and saying "Really?  Wow!" and then quickly walking off.

[madone]

16 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

I'm still trying to understand the photo never mind if that's a man or woman. 

yeah me too.

The story is very different in tone from what I read last night, saying he was swaggering and posturing and working without a work permit,

He was allegedly manning the weed shop for a free room and a cut of revenue

[madone]

I reckon that on certain parts of the island, you'd be hard-pressed to find local expats that didn't have a bag of cocaine 

[hotchilli]

16 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

I'm still trying to understand the photo never mind if that's a man or woman. 

Got me beat too.... 

[ronster]

17 minutes ago, BangkokReady said:

 

Doubtful.  The guy's likely mentally ill.  Probably a lot of smiling, nodding and saying "Really?  Wow!" and then quickly walking off.

Probably off his head on the drugs judging by the size of the amount he had in police photo.

[DonniePeverley]

Enough is enough now - these Russians have destroyed Thailand. You may see the odd story like this of a takedown, but they are working everywhere - full on communities working. 

 

Send them all back to the Soviet Unions at once. 

[Yagoda]

52 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

There is no question that the liberal visa policy has enabled the Russian Bratva and the Chinese Triads to establish a presence here, but it is very unlikely that the Bratva members go around announcing who they are, and who they work for. One look at them, and you know. 

 

 

You wouldnt know a member of the Russian mob if one slapped your face and dropping in the wrong Russian word just makes you look even less informed.

[Gottfrid]

That´s no mafia, if it´s the skin and bone kinda guy/girl.

[mran66]

1 hour ago, ronster said:

So some scruffy skinny guy was running around dressed as a Thai cop pretending he was russian mafia and people believed him ? 😂

 

Russians. Tells quite a bit. 

[Formaleins]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Picture of the alleged Russian criminal courtesy of mgronline

 

In a dramatic takedown, Tourist Police apprehended a Russian man allegedly posing as a "mafia" figure on Koh Pha Ngan, intimidating tourists and demanding protection money. The 27-year-old, Vladislav Klenov, was arrested after police received a tip-off about his fake authority antics on March 9.

 

Klenov, donning counterfeit police gear and toting a mock firearm, wooed fellow Russians with claims of high-level Thai connections. His illusions of power quickly unravelled after a raid led by Police Lieutenant General Saksira Pueak-am, targeting his operations at a local shop in Ban Tai.

 

The search revealed an arsenal fit for a Hollywood set: an air rifle mimicking an M4A1, handcuffs, and a sham police vest, underpinning his facade. Klenov, primarily a cannabis salesman, reaped profits while maintaining a menacing persona.

 

 

Faced with charges of working without a permit and using cocaine, his defiance crumbled. He now awaits legal proceedings at Koh Pha Ngan Police Station. Lt. Col. Winij Boonchit urged any victims of Klenov's intimidation to come forward, assuring their safety, reported The Thaiger.

 

In a statement to tourists, Pol. Lt. Gen. Saksira emphasised Thailand's zero-tolerance approach: "The law is firm—no room for troublemakers in paradise. This high season, our mission is to ensure a crime-free haven for all visitors."

 

-- 2025-03-10

 

 

Working without a permit -So does that mean that being in the local Mafia and carrying out extortion on tourists is a protected Thai industry?

[Jim Blue]

1 hour ago, howlee101 said:

Careful you don't misgender. Many on this forum will be triggered and report you as misogyn-genderphobia zealot 🤨

That's what my wife calls me .....

[Tarteso]

I was struck by the painting hanging on the wall of his house. Definitely these Ruskis and their culture are strange. 

[twizzian]

Looking at the photo, I wouldn’t be intimidated by that little squirt

[Kinok Farang]

Valter Mitski.

[JamesPhuket10]

2 hours ago, Expat Tom said:

Any country that builds its tourism industry on the three pillars of China, India and Russia deserves all of rudeness, disease, and criminality that comes with that decision. 

I have been in Thailand for over 15 years and taught at one of Thailand's leading universities. I love Thailand but I am completely mobile. After I sold my two condos about 5 years ago I will only be a renter here. I will be sad to leave my second home but almost daily, I add another item of two to my RFL file (Reasons For Leaving). I have an exit plan and, unfortunately, the day may come that I put that plan into action.

 

Let's look at a few simple facts. The FIRST case of Covid 19 reported outside of China was a taxi driver in Bangkok who took two Chinese tourists from the airport to a hotel. Thailand has fallen from 106# on the World Corruption Index in 2023 to 107# in 2024 concurrent with the increase in Russians . BYW, Russia is 141st on that list. Indians are rude and obnoxious and cheap and generally HATED by the average Thai. The Thai government is worried about overstays and other visa issues while bars and clubs advertising Russian ladies operate under glowing neon lights on Walking Street. What kind of visas and work permits do these Russian ladies have....BROWN ENVELOPE VISAS?  The corruption is so blatant in Thailand that it requires no research to find it. Its right in your face. 

 

I have traveled to over 70 countries and lived for longer than one year in 6 different countries. Thailand's problems are 95% due to terrible government. I will be extremely sad when I leave. I love the culture and the people. The problem is the leadership...or lack of. 

 

  

 

Ah, you mentioned "walking street", so that must mean Pattaya.

 

I went there in 2019 for a short visit as I was having a house built in Rayong, I would never go again, it does not represent Thailand in any way, it is Farang land, and the worst of the tourists go there. 

 

In Phuket, Patong for instance does not represent Thailand where most tourists seem to go, the other places in Phuket for example Kathu and Phuket Town do represent Thailand as 99% of people living there are Thai.

 

As far as Thai politics goes they do not affect me living here, we are second-class citizens anyway regarding not being able to settle permanently or vote,  but I knew that before I came here and I have my five thousand pound cash stash of emergency money in case I need to leave in a hurry.

 

There are millions of tourists coming to Thailand each year, but the news never states that forty million tourists visited Thailand this year without causing any problems, only a few did.

 

I have lived and worked in Germany, the UK, Holland, Sweden, Denmark, the USA, and live in Thailand, Thailand is a great place to be, except for Pattaya that is.

 

We are farangs here so we should put up, shut up, or leave, I am tired of hearing farangs moaning about the country. 

[digger70]

18 hours ago, JeffersLos said:

I'm still trying to understand the photo never mind if that's a man or woman. 

Probable depending  what HE feels like  to Identify  as  at any given time.

[crazykopite]

Send him home they can give him a real weapon and send him to the front line !

[biggles45]

2 hours ago, Ironmike said:

it's more then high time these free visas are stopped

There are no 'free visas', they are 'Visa Free' entries. A Tourist Visa requires an application, providing data on the tourist, which can be verified. These folk just turn up at the airport and are let in. 

[JamesPhuket10]

44 minutes ago, biggles45 said:

There are no 'free visas', they are 'Visa Free' entries. A Tourist Visa requires an application, providing data on the tourist, which can be verified. These folk just turn up at the airport and are let in. 

 

It has been that way since I first came here in 1987, you turn up, get a stamp in your passport and then you are on your way. 

[smew]

putin sheep showing baby teeth outside of russia... the usual bravery  

[Dont confuse me]

A legend in his own lunchtime. Let's see how he gets on in the BangkokHiilton.

[sambum]

7 hours ago, CFCol said:

I think it's the other way round

 

The "guy" with his face "pixellated" out must be the "....Russian man allegedly posing as a "mafia" figure on Koh Pha Ngan,......"

 

Having said that, he/she doesn't look particularly menacing!!!

[MeHere]

Is that Trump and Putin in the foreground?? 🤣

[Brick Top]

Apparently he had a "Big Joke" silicone mask 

[GoodieAfterDark]

Hmmm, I guess he was passing around his business card.

[factual monk]

I have a couple of Russian or CIS country types guys in the hotel i stay... with lot of tattoos...

I maintain cordial hi- hello relationship with them in the gym, lift and lobby area... 😆 🤣 😂 😹 

[Luuk Chaai]

21 hours ago, Expat Tom said:

Thailand's problems are 95% due to terrible government ..... Almost as bad as the "Biden " government.

 

  

 

[impulse]

22 hours ago, JoePai said:

Agree not easy - I think the chap on the right with a Police necklace is real, the (?)female in the middle the translator and the chap on left the Russian still dressed up in his pretend cop gear ?

 

No.  That's the Russkie leaving, at the door.

 

[steven100]

send him back to   Vokenskyenslovkonvestokenof   

[Bday Prang]

19 hours ago, biggles45 said:

There are no 'free visas', they are 'Visa Free' entries. A Tourist Visa requires an application, providing data on the tourist, which can be verified. These folk just turn up at the airport and are let in. 

There are very few checks involved when obtaining a tourist visa so insisting they have one of those is pointless unless the requirements are made more onerous than a return flight, a hotel booking, and a few bob in the bank