Picture courtesy of KhaoSod

 

In a developing saga that highlights Thailand's growing frustration with disorderly foreign visitors, an Israeli tourist was arrested on the idyllic island of Koh Samui for allegedly selling hallucinogenic mushrooms out of a cannabis shop. This incident unfolds as authorities continue to crackdown on illegal narcotics distribution disguised under the banner of legal cannabis sales.

 

The arrest was made during a meticulously planned sting operation by the Surat Thani police, spearheaded by District Chief Amorn Chumchuai and Officer Jirapat Chuchan. This operation took place yesterday, following a tip-off from a concerned local who suspected that Snoopy Samui, a shop located in the bustling area of Bo Phut's Village 2, was offering more than its advertised cannabis products.

 

Undercover officers were sent in to investigate these claims and used marked 1,000-baht notes to purchase a small bag of "cow dung mushrooms," a known hallucinogenic substance prohibited under Thailand's Category 5 narcotics law. The transaction verified the allegations, prompting waiting officers to rush in and arrest the duo: Ben, a 29-year-old Israeli national, and Bualoy, his 39-year-old Thai accomplice, who were both on duty behind the shop's counter.

 

Upon conducting a comprehensive search of the premises, authorities uncovered a considerable hoard of the illicit mushrooms. These included 2.32 grammes in a small bag, 58 grammes in another, 247 grammes inside a jar, and 173 grammes in a second jar, indicating significant intent to distribute these banned substances.

 

The apprehended pair are now facing serious charges, namely "jointly possessing Category 5 narcotics with intent to sell" and "illegally distributing them." They are being held at Bo Phut Police Station as they await further legal proceedings.

 

While Thailand has relaxed regulations surrounding cannabis, allowing its sale and consumption under strict legal guidelines, the sale and possession of hallucinogenic mushrooms remain a criminal offence. This case has spurred renewed examinations of cannabis shops, particularly in tourist-heavy locales like Koh Samui, to ensure compliance with Thai law and to prevent these outlets from becoming conduits for illegal drug trade.

 

This latest bust involving an Israeli national is not an isolated event. It follows a string of incidents that have brought Israeli tourists under the scrutiny of Thai authorities, contributing to mounting tensions and negatively impacting Israel’s image within Thailand. Efforts are being intensified to safeguard Thailand’s reputation as a welcoming destination while maintaining strict adherence to narcotics regulations.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-05-15

 

 

Aw shucks. If not the local Israeli weed shop, where's a brother supposed to go now to get hooked up with magic mushies?

15 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

This operation took place yesterday, following a tip-off from a concerned local who suspected that Snoopy Samui, a shop located in the bustling area of Bo Phut's Village 2, was offering more than its advertised cannabis products.

After a tip-off, otherwise business as usual.

Are foreigners allowed to work in or own weed shops ?

Maybe ban all Israelis from entering Thailand.

They are a bunch of misbehavers.

Too many magicians in Samui and Phanghan now days.... 

Looks like the magic doesn't work in keeping the BiB away.

Maybe stick with the Thai amulets.

 

Considering there's more weed shops/cafes/bars than massage shops on the island these days I'm guessing most of the <deleted>ty ones who sell very low quality weed (because they don't have a clue about it) etc are a front for illegal narcotics.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

and Bualoy

Bualooooy

 

 

18 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Maybe ban all Israelis from entering Thailand.

They are a bunch of misbehavers.

There was some talk of that earlier this year.

They are banned from a few countries already.

16 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

on the idyllic island of Koh Samui

 

Is this even true anymore? Seemed just like another tourist trap to me but with lots of ganja shops for the druggies and layabouts. Not very impressive with some exceptions.

20 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

There was some talk of that earlier this year.

They are banned from a few countries already.

Maldives had banned Israelis tourist, and the other countries are?

40 minutes ago, ronster said:

Are foreigners allowed to work in or own weed shops ?

If you have a work permit you can work in your shop or anyone else’s for that matter.  The work permit is the key ingredient.  
 

Owning a shop does not allow you to work in it.  

“In a developing saga that highlights Thailand's growing frustration with disorderly foreign visitors,”

 

I get that he was selling illegal substances, but can’t for the life of me see where it says he was disorderly.

 

Did they mix up the story or did they just tag it on to a theme of the moment that they are trying to develop into a “thing”?

2 minutes ago, Kandinski said:

Maldives had banned Israelis tourist, and the other countries are?

Iran, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Iraq, maybe a few more.

12 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

Saudi Arabia,

Not for much longer.

18 minutes ago, kuzmabruk said:

If you have a work permit you can work in your shop or anyone else’s for that matter.  The work permit is the key ingredient.  
 

Owning a shop does not allow you to work in it.  

But can you do any physical work and selling or is the role as a supervisor basically.

51 minutes ago, newbee2022 said:

Maybe ban all Israelisa from entering Thailand.

They are a bunch of misbehavers.

Israeli misbehaviour is nothing new in Thailand.

As long ago as the early 1980s the biggest mountain trekking company in Chiang Mai banned them after getting so many complaints from their guides about obnoxious Israeli behaviour.

 

19 minutes ago, Kandinski said:

Maldives had banned Israelis tourist, and the other countries are?

Algeria, Bangladesh, Brunei, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Yemen are ones that I know of.

49 minutes ago, ryandb said:

Considering there's more weed shops/cafes/bars than massage shops on the island these days I'm guessing most of the <deleted>ty ones who sell very low quality weed (because they don't have a clue about it) etc are a front for illegal narcotics.

Great way to launder money also. Buy the crappiest  weed you can buy for  peanuts and then make out like it's some amazing stuff you sell for 1000bht a gram .

21 minutes ago, wensiensheng said:

I get that he was selling illegal substances, but can’t for the life of me see where it says he was disorderly.

You haven’t ever used magic mushrooms?

A lot of fun, but disorderly is a word that could be used to describe the effects.

Just now, Yagoda said:

It drives you crazy that Jews rule you doesnt it?

What the hell are you on about?
 

I live in Phuket and the Jews have no influence on my life apart from all the misbehaving ones in Thailand making us all look bad. 
 

Talk about overestimating your own self importance.

He knew that what he was doing was illegal, no sympathy. He happened to be Israeli.

What a scandal!! It's my understanding, that most cannabis shops in Koh Samui and Koh Phangan are selling magic mushrooms. So the real problem must be, that in this particular shop, they were sold by a foreign tourist. Meanwhile all the Thai-sellers of magic mushrooms continues to operate undisturbed, because no foreigner would be bothered to tip off the police about a Thai national selling magic mushrooms.

14 minutes ago, MalcolmB said:

What the hell are you on about?
 

I live in Phuket and the Jews have no influence on my life apart from all the misbehaving ones in Thailand making us all look bad. 
 

Talk about overestimating your own self importance.

My self importance? I wish I has Jewish then I could get a passport and some beachfront in Tel Aviv, maybe even Gaza. They rule me too. I just wondered how much it bothers the goosestep crowd.

1 hour ago, newbee2022 said:

Maybe ban all Israelis from entering Thailand.

They are a bunch of misbehavers.

From your anti-Semitic point of view, certainly

28 minutes ago, Yagoda said:

Yes but they still control the world. Every day, they rule your life.

What are you modern day goosesteppers going to do when the Abe Accords expand?

 

It drives you crazy that Jews rule you doesnt it?

From your anti-Semitic point of view, certainly👎

"Meticulously planned sting"...

I'm thinking "Don't forget, we're busting those stoners tomorrow".

22 minutes ago, ujayujay said:

From your anti-Semitic point of view, certainly👎

Its not anti semitic to know it, its anti semitic to hate them for it.

I don't get this.  If you are not in your home country you need to be extra careful to not break any laws or cause any trouble.  Why would someone sell this stuff?  Desperate for money maybe or just stupid?  Both?