Crime Foreigner Caught in Phuket Over Alleged Illegal Bike Rentals

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Picture via Facebook/Phuket Times ภูเก็ตไทม์

 

Police have apprehended a foreigner in Phuket, accusing him of running an illicit motorcycle rental service aimed at tourists. The accused, known only as Dinar, denied the charges and claimed his friend was the actual owner.

 

Tourist Police Sub-division 3 launched a crackdown on unauthorised vehicle rental enterprises operated by foreigners, targeting one suspect in Kathu district. This individual was reportedly linked to the One Way Big Bike Rental Company. During a raid on August 5, authorities caught Dinar washing a motorbike at the establishment.

 

Dinar was unable to provide essential documents, such as his passport and work permit, when the police requested them. Dinar maintained that he was not the business owner and instead directed attention to a friend named Victor. According to Dinar, the motorcycle belonged to Victor and had merely been loaned to him as a friend, not as part of any rental operation.

 

Despite Dinar's claims, police charged him under Thailand's Foreigners' Working Management Act for working without a permit.

 

This offence can lead to fines ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 baht, deportation, and a ban on applying for a work permit in the country for two years. Authorities plan to continue their investigation into Victor and other potential foreign nationals involved.

 

The incident sparked discussion on Phuket Times' Facebook page, as local commenters questioned police actions. Many argued that illegal foreign-run motorcycle rental businesses are common on the island, with some alleging these enterprises use advanced technology like GPS trackers and QR codes, even shutting off motorcycles remotely when rental periods expire.

 

Comments poured in with locals expressing disbelief over the late enforcement. “There are so many of them. They advertise on all social media platforms,” one user wrote. Another added, “Their services are more advanced than Thai shops. When rental time is up, the engine stops automatically.”

 

This issue raises questions about the extent of such illegal operations and the measures needed to curb them effectively.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-08-07